Accra, June 30, GNA - Professor Francis "Padigo" Dodoo, Gold medalist at the 1987 All African Games and a four time Olympian has assumed the leadership of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) for a four year period, after elections held at the Quadrennial Congress of the Committee on Tuesday.
Prof. Dodoo a distinguished Sociologist and Chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) who won the position unopposed takes over from Mr Benson Tongo Baba, whose leadership ended on a sour note, after 12 years of reign.
Dr Deborah Cubagee, Second Vice President in the Mr Baba led- administration was elevated to the position of the First Vice President after going through the contest unopposed.
Hon. Ken Dzirasah, the newly appointed head of the Ghana Handball Association (HAG) and Mr Nestor Galley, Chairman of the Ghana Badminton Association (BAG) also won the positions unopposed as the Second and Third Vice Presidents of the GOC.
The position of the General Secretary was keenly contested for by Mr. G. B. Awuakye, National Sports Development Officer (RSDO) of the National Sports Council (NSC) and Assistant General Secretary of the GOC and Nii Quaye-Kumah General Secretary of the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) and the Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF).
Nii Quaye-Kumah had a total 26 votes to win the day with Mr Awuakye polling 24 votes.
Mr Erasmus Adorkor, Deputy National Sports Development Officer went unopposed for the position of Assistant Secretary after Dr Nii Ahene Nunoo withdrew from the race.
Mr Frank Awuku, a member of the GHA is the new treasurer of the Committee as he also went through the polls unopposed, whilst Miss Joyce Zinabu Mahama who also went through unopposed will assume the position of the Assistant Treasurer.
The race for the three Executive Member positions were battled for by Dr Nii Ahene Nunoo of the Ghana Karate-Do Association (GKA), Mawuko Afadzinu of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Ben Nunoo Mensah of the Ghana Weightlifting Association (GWA) and Abdul Haye Yartey of the Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, (BB/FA). Dr Ahene Nunoo, Mr Afdzinu and Nunoo-Mensah took the slots with 41, 39 and 41 votes respectively.
The 11-member Management Committee of the GOC was sworn in by Worlanyo Agrah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC).
Dr Dodoo in his acceptance speech said he will provide a transparent, responsible and fair leadership to all stakeholders with the support of his members.
He, however, noted that the success of the administration will depend on the collective effort of all stakeholders, adding that his team of eleven members is ready to step onto the field to move Ghana sports forward.