The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), led by its President, Mr. Richard Akpokavi paid a courtesy call on the Director General, Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and his two able Deputies Ms. Veronica Commey and Mr. Gideon Hammond of the National Sports Authority (NSA), on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Mr. Ampofo Ankrah warmly welcomed the GOC delegation to the headquarters of the NSA. In his opening remarks, he expressed appreciation for the visit and emphasized the importance of cooperation between key stakeholders in the sports sector. “We are happy to have you here,” he stated, reiterating the NSA’s commitment to fostering collaboration for the advancement of sports in Ghana.
In his response, Mr. Akpokavi stressed the importance of strong partnerships among the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, NSA, and the GOC in achieving their shared objectives during the current four-year term. “Success depends on joint effort and effective leadership,” he noted before introducing members of his board to the NSA leadership.
The NSA Director General commended Mr. Akpokavi for his inclusive leadership and recalled the unifying message of his campaign. “I followed your campaign closely and admired your message of togetherness,” he said. He further expressed confidence in the direction of Ghana’s sporting future, describing the current leadership as young, dynamic, and capable of transforming the sector. He emphasized the need for capacity building, continuous stakeholder engagement, and a shared vision for development.
Mr. Richard Akpokavi also highlighted the need for early and strategic planning in the sporting calendar, warning against the pitfalls of last-minute preparation. He called for a more proactive approach across all sporting disciplines. As part of efforts to build capacity within the sports fraternity, he announced an upcoming stakeholder training session for sports federations and extended an invitation to the NSA to participate actively.
He also raised critical points on infrastructure development, facility maintenance, and the need to optimize the use of existing sports facilities to benefit both athletes and the general public.
The DG announced that Ghana’s 4x100m relay team has successfully qualified for the 2025 Commonwealth Games in Tokyo. He used the opportunity to rally for broader support and best practices that would lead to similar successes in other sporting disciplines.
Concluding the visit, the GOC Secretary General, Mr. Mohammed Muniru Kassim expressed gratitude to the NSA Director General and his able Deputies for the warm reception and the productive engagement. He reaffirmed the GOC’s commitment to working closely with the NSA and other stakeholders to promote sports development in Ghana.
Story by Joan Oduro-Nyarko
NSA-PR
13/05/25