In an exclusive interview with Kwame Dwumoh Agyemang of GTV Sports+, Richard Akpokavie, an aspiring presidential candidate of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), shared his vision for the organization and Ghanaian sports as a whole. Akpokavie emphasized the importance of unity among stakeholders, stating, “Unity is key to our progress because our differences should not lead to this kind of rancor.”
To address the challenges facing the GOC, Akpokavie proposed a transparent and inclusive electoral process, allowing all stakeholders to participate and choose their leaders. “One of the things that is happening this year is that we are trying to make things in such a way that all the processes leading to the elections are transparent, are free and people will have the chance to choose whoever they want to choose,” he explained. He also pledged to bridge the gap between different groups, ensuring that everyone is on board with the committee’s decisions. “It is the responsibility of the one who wins to make sure that he closes the gap and makes sure that everybody comes on board,” Akpokavie added.
One of Akpokavie’s primary concerns is the underrepresentation of athletes on the GOC board. “One thing we must also do is that we must focus on the athletes, athletes are the reason why we do sports,” he emphasized. He questioned why the athletes’ commission is not represented on the board despite being provided for in the constitution. “Can you believe that the athletes commission is not represented on the as a member of the GOC even though there is provision for it in the constitutions?” he quizzed. To address this, he plans to facilitate elections for athlete representatives to join the GOC board, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes. “We need to hear the voices of the athletes, they are important. We are taking decisions and the athletes who are focused on what we are doing do not have a voice,” Akpokavie stressed.
On the issue of visa fraud, Akpokavie proposed tightening the GOC’s database by requiring federations to submit lists of their athletes and passport details. “There is an easy way to deal with thing in the sense that, what happens normally is that allegation is that money is taken from people, and they are taken as part of the contingents in various ways,” he explained. He also advocated for stricter use of the GOC letterhead, prohibiting its use to cover non-athletes or individuals not directly related to competitions. “The GOC office or letterhead must not be used to cover anybody… We must be strict about it. If we are not strict about it, other people will inveterate, and you have a whole problem,” Akpokavie warned.
“We are stronger together,” Akpokavie emphasized. “The GOC is a powerful force, and when we are divided, we are nothing. Together, we are powerful. We should be able to influence government policies on sports because that is the federations, these are the people who do sports.” With his vision for unity, transparency, and athlete representation, Richard Akpokavie aims to make a positive impact on the Ghana Olympic Committee and Ghanaian sports as a whole.
The 2025 Ghana Olympic Committee Elective Congress is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre, Committee Hall 1.
