The Ministry of Youth and Sports has reacted to issues emanating from the Minister’s participation at the recent International Olympic Committee (IOC) organized Conference on Development and Peace in Geneva, Switzerland.

This is in response to a news item carried on an Accra-based radio station, Joy FM on Friday, May 20, that sought to impugn the credibility of the Ministry and efforts made towards resolving the IOC and the Ghana Olympic Committee’s (GOC) impasse. According to the Ministry, the media outfit reported that they have in their possession an email from IOC that suggests that the Minister, Mr Clement KOfi Humado attended no meeting at the IOC Office. A statement from the Ministry copied to GNA Sports stated categorical that “the invitation to him was to attend a conference organized by the IOC and the International Working Group (IWG) on Sports for Development and Peace at the United Nations Conference Center in Geneva and not at the head office of IOC in Geneva.” It said the Ministry does not intend to get involved in the power tussle within the GOC that led to its suspension by the IOC. “We are also fully aware of the various attempts by some persons to derail the process that the Minister embarked upon at resolving the impasse. “We wish to assure the general public that the Minister and for that matter, the Ministry is very committed to resolving the impasse between the GOC and the IOC. “Our correspondence with Mr Pere Miro, the NOC Relations Director has given us hope that the matter would be resolved by the end of July 2011, when it is expected that the Sports Regulations Bill 2011 would have been passed by Parliament.” The statement added that the Minister was elected as co-chair of IWG on Sports for Development and Peace at a session chaired by Madame Debbie Lye, International Development Director of UK Sports and Director of the International Inspirations for London 2012 International Sports Legacy Programme.

Mr Humado made a presentation at the United Nations/IOC Forum on May 12 in Geneva, Switzerland. Other African countries present at the session were Senegal, Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The IOC it would be recalled suspended Ghana early January citing Governmental Interference in the activities of the Ghana Olympic Committee.