The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, has pledged to protect the integrity of swimming in Ghana and safeguard athletes as the Ministry works to resolve the ongoing governance impasse within the Ghana Swimming Association.
Speaking to the sports media on Tuesday, the Minister addressed the Ministry’s intervention in the dispute, recent communication from World Aquatics, and gave updates on Ghana’s hosting of the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships and preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On swimming, Adams said the Ministry stepped in after “longstanding concerns raised by stakeholders within the swimming fraternity regarding governance, transparency, accountability, and the conduct of elections within the Association.”
“The Ministry and the National Sports Authority engaged the various parties and facilitated discussions aimed at resolving the impasse amicably,” he said. Those talks, he noted, led to an understanding that included the withdrawal of court action and the drafting of guidelines for free, fair, and transparent elections.
A committee framework was also established to supervise the process, involving representatives from stakeholders, the Ghana Olympic Committee, the Electoral Commission, the National Sports Authority, athletes’ representatives, and the Ministry.
Adams stressed that the Ministry still considers that framework valid, “particularly as no party has formally communicated any withdrawal from the process that was agreed before the Ministry and the NSA.”
“Our objective has never been to interfere in the autonomy of sport, but rather to ensure that the governance environment within Ghana swimming inspires confidence, protects athletes, and promotes stability within the sport,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged World Aquatics’ position on recognition and the proposed Stabilization Committee, saying, “We respect the role of World Aquatics as the international governing body for aquatics.” He added that stakeholder engagement and institutional cooperation remain essential to resolving the issues in a way that protects athletes and preserves confidence in the sport.
Moving forward, the Ministry’s focus is on three priorities: protecting athletes, restoring confidence among stakeholders, and ensuring any future electoral process is fair, transparent, and widely accepted by the swimming community.
“The Ministry and the National Sports Authority will continue consultations with stakeholders and advise appropriately on the next steps,” Adams said.
He also provided updates on Ghana’s preparations to host the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships and the country’s plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though details on those were not disclosed in the briefing.
