The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is undergoing significant restructuring efforts under the leadership of President Richard Akpokavie. According to Charles Osei Asibey, the Communication Director of the GOC, the committee is working to create a calm and efficient operating style.
“We want to operate with a calm style. We don’t want to be aggressive. You keep calm and then do the needful,” Asibey explained on the Studio 5 show on GTV Sports+.
The GOC has held a two-day retreat with national sports federations to discuss restructuring and compliance. Asibey noted that the committee recognizes the importance of branding and creating content for sports federations, as well as paying attention to athletes.
“The GOC reckons that it is important for us to first of all restructure sports again to ensure that there’s compliance as far as all federations are concerned,” he said.
Asibey emphasized the need for the GOC and national sports federations to work together to raise funds and engage corporate Ghana.
“We agree that government alone cannot do this, but if we come together as a team and we begin to engage corporate Ghana, then we will be able to raise that kind of resources that will help push the federations,” he said.
Asibey cited South Africa as an example of successful Olympic Committee management. “I remember my visit to South Africa when I had a meeting with the Olympic Committee president. He mentioned that when he took office, the accounts of the Olympic Committee NOC were negative, but when you begin to create a positive brand and run a controversy-free institution, then you are able to engage people to invest in what you do,” he said.
Asibey revealed that the GOC is setting up an internal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system to help federations resolve issues without going to court.
“One of the things during the amendment of the GOC constitution will be that if you don’t exhaust all the channels and you go to court, you lose your membership,” he explained.
Asibey emphasized that the GOC wants its work to speak for itself, rather than seeking to draw attention to its efforts. “The work they do must speak for them. They don’t want to be going around and blowing their own horn,” he said.
Despite challenges, Asibey expressed confidence in the GOC’s leadership. “Whether we meet problems or not, whether there are challenges or not, we feel that we must find solutions because we are leaders,” he said.
