Why Hiding Behind the “Future Sports Bill” is Killing Athletics

Maakye Hon. Minister of Sports.

Congratulations on being elevated to this high office. Almost 6 years ago, after one of the glorious chapters in Ghana Athletics history, the former President pledged his administration’s support to do all that it could to maintain our new found success. This pledge was made during a trip to the Castle after the 2003 All-African Games in Abuja, Nigeria. In the years since Abuja, we have had 2 individual successes at the global level. However, as a team and a sport, we can honestly say we no longer recognize the sport that gave each of us a platform upon which we have excelled and made our motherland proud. We need no more proof than the results from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

So decimated is our sport that for the first time in recent memory, Ghana did not have a single male athlete who had met the Olympic “A” qualifying standard. Ghana sent only 3 athletes to the Olympic Games compared to 15 in 2004. Hon. Minister, the athletes of Ghana need your help and intervention. The endorsers of this petition include athletes with a combined haul of more than 30 continental medals, at least 5 commonwealth medals and 1 world title, with a lot of national and continental records to boot. We span 4 generations and represent the finest our nation has had to offer through these decades.

As a group we recognize that Ghana has limited resources; there is only so much government can do to help the sporting sector. However, we are not asking for more resources but the opportunity to put in place the structures necessary for us to succeed. We believe that for each sport in Ghana to achieve its potential, all pertinent stakeholders must work together in a progressive rather than dictatorial manner.

In October 2008, something remarkable happened in Ghana Sports; an event so potentially transformative that most who witnessed it felt and believed that this might be the start of a recovery for athletics. The phenomenon was a push and recognition at the grassroots level that each faction within our sport had to be brought to the table and be allowed to contribute in meaningful way if we are to recover. On October 2nd 2008, we brought stakeholders representing the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), Ghana Olympic Committee, National Sports Council, security services, coaches, sports consultants, physiotherapy personnel, Paralympics personnel, administrators and national athletes representing 4 generations. Representatives from the Ministry of Education Science and Sports (MoESS) were invited but did attend for one reason or another. Our own GAA Chairman, Mr. Sandy Osei-Agyemang was invited and after initially committing to participate, pulled out at the last minute citing other more important matters.

The stakeholders meeting ended with the creation of a framework document that was supposed to be delivered to the “next” executive council of the GAA. We use the word “next” because according to our constitution and that of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Ghana must go to congress to elect new executive council members. This is a requirement that Ghana has flagrantly abused over the past decade and lead to IAAF freezing GAA’s annual administrative grant for a while in 2005. The problem was resolved when Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS) promised IAAF that Ghana will go to congress by 2008. Thus, those of us in this sport saw the stakeholders meeting as a precursor to congress. After the stakeholders meeting, the executive council of the GAA set a date of November 12th 2008 as the date for congress. On the afternoon of 11th of November, 12 hours before the planned congress, when delegates had congregated at the stadium in Accra for the Congress, the MoESS (The former Minister O. B. Amoah advised by Dr. Owusu-Ansah) with the blessing of our OWN chairman labeled our congress as illegal citing a laundry list of inaccurate and non-relevant issues. They essentially wanted to and worked to preserve the position of Mr. Sandy Agyeman because of his ties to the previous government. Worse, Ghana, through the actions of MoESS, broke its commitment to IAAF by wanting to appoint members of the executive council as opposed to their being elected by constituents; no matter what people like Dr. Owusu-Ansah will tell you, this pledge that Ghana had made to IAAF can potentially cost us the suspension of our federation. We urge you to not hide behind the smoke screen of the current sports bill before parliament (6+ years and counting) just as your predecessor did. Please visit the link below for a well-written article that debunks using the Sports Bill as an excuse for preventing congress. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=153178. The idea that Athletics cannot govern itself according to international standards and still function within the framework of any future sports bill is preposterous. It is akin to saying let us keeping working with a failed set of policies for an undetermined period of time until the sports bill is passed. It makes just as little sense as asking the Ministry to cease functioning until the sports bill is passed.

Mr. Minister, you have indicated your commitment to move our nation into the 21st century through forward looking policies that respect our traditions and are in-line with global standards. However, our sport is being killed by adherence to backward looking policies and personal interests of a handful of individuals meant to stifle progress. Ghana has been a beacon for democracy in Africa. As we enter the first year under your leadership, we request clear directives from your office on the adoption of internationally recognized standards and policies to advance sports in Ghana. We implore you to ensure that athletics goes to congress as soon as possible as required by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and our constitution. Thank you for your public pronouncement to support sports development in Ghana. We look forward to favorable action and may Allah bless you as you take the helm of sports in Ghana.

Respectfully

Alice Anum William Amakye Eric Nkansah

Hannah Afriyie Rosina Amenebede Kennedy Osei

Albert Lomotey Eric Akogyram Christian Nsiah

George Enchill John Myles-Mills Leonard Myles-Mills

John Dodoo Eugene Koranteng Hellena Wrappah

Wilfred Amanfo Samuel Nelson Boateng Albert Agyemang

Albion Mends Solomon Amegatcher Aziz Zakari

Emmanuelle Wellington Andrew Owusu Ignasious Gaisah

Grace Bakari Abu Duah Tanko Brimah

Helena Opoku Mark Awere Harry Adu-Mfum

Robert Hackman Vida Anim Mariamu Salifu

Seth Amoo Marc Dradozi