Former continental champ, All-African Games record holder vies for top job

On November 12th 2008, Ghana Athletics will host its first ever congress to elect members of its executive council as mandated by its constitution and that of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Congress is the general assembly of the constituents and the highest authority of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA). The positions up for election include that of the Chair. One of the candidates for the position of Chairman is Professor Francis Dodoo. He was born and grew up in Accra, Ghana, where at a very early age his father, a two-sport national team star, introduced him to sports. Before he turned 15, Dodoo had already been invited to the national cricket team. By the time he left the shores of Ghana at age 20, he had earned call-ups to represent Ghana in five additional sports: volleyball, hockey, basketball, team handball, and track and field. A late arrival to track and field, he competed in the triple-jump at Achimota Secondary School and the University of Ghana.

In December 1980, he accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Washington State University in the US. In 1982, Dodoo became the national triple jump record holder. In August 1987, he went on to break the African Games Record, which remains the oldest standing continental record today; 21 years and counting. Presently, Dr. Francis Dodoo is a Full Professor of Sociology and Demography and is the current director of the United Nations Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) at the University of Ghana. Below is a summary of his athletics and professional honors.

Athletics Honors

. The Grand Medal (GM) of the Republic of Ghana (2006)

. Founding Member (and First Chair) of Ghana Athletes Association

. 4-Time Track & Field Olympian (1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996)

. Ghana Olympic Ambassador (1995-1996)

. National Sportsman of the Year (1987)

. Current All-African Games Triple Jump Record Holder (1987, Nairobi, Kenya)

. Former National (Ghana) Triple Jump Record Holder (17.12 meters)

. First Ghanaian to break the 17 meter barrier in the triple jump

. Represented Ghana in six different sports between 1974 and 1996

Professional Honors

. Published close to 50 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and given 90 scientific presentations at international fora.

. Raised over $3m in research grant funding

. Full Professor and Director, UN Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana

. Holds a College Chair and Full Professorship at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

. Associate of the Center for Global Health Population, Poverty, and Policy at the University of Southampton

. Finalist for International Development Research Centre (IDRC) 1st International Research Chair

. Winner of the 2007 Board of Director's Award of the National Council of Ghana Associations, New York.

. Senior Fellow of the Population Council and Director of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)in Nairobi (with average annual budget of $1,000,000), 1998-2000

. Headed various academic departments and programs in US universities

. Founding Member of the New Legon Observer

. Has served in various consulting, advisory, review, and other capacities for a number of national governments, international organizations, and charitable foundations including:

o Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)

o Ghana AIDS Commission

o United States National Institutes of Health (NIH)

o African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

o United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

o African Development Bank (ADB)

o United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

o National Research Council of the United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

o Food Security and Sustainable Development Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

o UN-HABITAT

o European Commission and the Statistical Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT) of the European Union (EU)

o German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

o German Foundation for World Population (DSW)

o Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)

o International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

o Population Reference Bureau (PRB)

o Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI),

o The INDEPTH network

o The Wellcome Trust

o William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

o John D. and Catherien T. MacArthur Foundation

o Rockefeller Foundation.