National Sports Authority has announced a new Normalization Committee for Ghana Rugby after resolution of managerial problem that bedeviled Ghana Rugby since 2021. The latest announcement was made at a press conference presided over by Acting Director General and Board Chairman of National Sports Authority Mr. Seth Panwum. According to the NSA Boss, Mr. Seth Panwum, the committee shall have exclusive mandate to issue official communications and directives on matters of Ghana Rugby. He emphasized that every directive by the committee must be communicated to all stakeholders including African Rugby and any information that is not sanctioned by the committee must be disregarded.
Speaking at press conference attended by Representative of African Rugby David Gilbert, and Member of the Governing Board of Africa Rugby Mr. Sean Irish, Deputy NSA Director General Abdul M. Bawa, the NSA Acting Director General Mr. Seth Panwum said “After several months of meetings and negotiations with the officials from Ruby Africa, it was agreed to appoint a normalization committee for Ghana Rugby. The Normalisation Committee will act as an election committee and non of its members shall be eligible to contest for any position during the elective congress”.
Contributing to the announcement, Judicial Disciplinary Committee Member of Rugby Africa David Gilbert said ” Normalization Committee should be put in place to assist Ghana Rugby to get itself back into the sport, mainstream sport, because it was at one stage, looking at being banned by World Rugby and Rugby Africa for non-compliance in certain areas. So the objective of World Rugby and African Rugby is to try and grow the game of Rugby in Africa. So that is what our main goal is. It is to get the boys and girls and players back onto the field playing rugby and playing sport and participating. So that is why we D-G has agreed to hold this press conference this afternoon, and it’s not really anything to do about me or whatever it’s to do about Ghana Rugby and Ghana Sports. So, we’re here to help. Basically, what we’re here to do. Thank you very much. Thank you”.
Resolution of legal issues
Ghana Rugby has been in the law court for the past four years. This court litigation has drastically affected the growth and development of the Rugby game in Ghana.
In the course of the litigation, some of the accused members were cited for contempt of court and sentenced to 21 days imprisonment at Nsawam Medium Security Prison. The said members have also been barred and injuncted (interlocutory) by an Accra High Court -General Jurisdiction 1 from commenting and/or writing on matters relating to Ghana Rugby particularly matters involving the immediate past President of the Ghana Rugby and currently the President of Africa Rugby.
As result of this protracted litigation, Ghana Rugby was faced with potential suspension from African Rugby activities including training, competitions and championships. It is important to anchor the point that a ban or suspension will not directly the litigants in the matter but rather the player who will be denied to train and compete internationally.
However, following the interventions of Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a team was assigned by the African Rugby to liaise with the National Sports Authority and GOC concerning the situation in Ghana Rugby. After several months of meetings and negotiations with officials from the Ghana Rugby, it was agreed to appoint a Normalization Committee for Ghana Rugby.
Mandate of the Normalisation Committee of Ghana Rugby
The newly appointed Normalisation Committee of Ghana Rugby chaired by Mr. Mohammed Sahnoon will include the following responsibilities:
1) Day to day running of the affairs of Ghana Rugby and corporate with Africa Rugby.
2) To ensure that, the standard, practices, procedures, rules and regulation of Ghana Rugby is in compliance with the requirement of Africa and World Rugby standards.
3) Organise and conduct elective congress for the election of national officers for the Ghana Rugby by close of 2024.
4) The Normalisation Committee will act as an election committee and non of its members shall be eligible to contest for any position during the elective congress.
NSA Acting Director General further noted that “As result of Government to normalise the Ghana Rugby, Ghana has been given the right to host the 2024 Rugby African Women’s Seven Cup Championship in Accra. Government has invested heavily in sports infrastructure particularly Rugby and will continue to support all sporting disciplines to achieves its full potentials. It is my hope that the hope of government that all stakeholders in the Rugby value chain will corporate and support the normalisation committee to succeed on its mandate”.