The outgoing President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Ben Nunoo Mensah, has issued a firm warning to the National Democratic Congress. NDC government, urging it to refrain from entangling partisan politics with the administration and development of sports, particularly football, in the country.
Speaking on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning show over the weekend, Nunoo Mensah emphasized that political interference poses a significant threat to the integrity and growth of sports, especially at the international level.
His remarks come at a critical time when concerns have been raised about the growing politicization of sports administration in Ghana, with some federations allegedly influenced by political considerations rather than merit or competence.
“Individuals in sports who do not understand the way international sports work may think that sports has to be political. No, I don’t agree with them,” he stated firmly.
“I’m very much part of the NDC structure in my constituency, but it only stops in my house. When I wear the cap of GOC President, I’m not political. That is what the IOC demands us to do.”
Nunoo Mensah stressed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) charter requires strict neutrality from sports leaders, forbidding political bias or influence in the running of national Olympic bodies and sports federations.
According to him, adhering to these principles is essential not only to protect the credibility of the Ghana Olympic Committee but also to ensure the long-term development of sports in the country.
“Anybody who believes in the charter of the IOC will caution any government who wants to make sports political.”
” It will not be good for the long-term development of our sports, especially when it has to do with the Ghana Olympic Committee or national federations,” he said.
Ben Nunoo Mensah, who has been at the helm of the GOC since 2017, played a central role in Ghana’s successful hosting of the 13th African Games in Accra in 2024 — an event widely praised for its organization and spirit of pan-African unity.
His tenure also saw increased financial support for various sports federations, with nearly $800,000 disbursed since 2021 to support athletes and federations.
Nunoo Mensah urged the government to respect the autonomy of sports federations and allow professionals within the sector to manage their own affairs.
“Let the stakeholders run these things, and I’m sure they know what’s good for the federations that they belong to,” he advised.
His caution serves as a timely reminder of the importance of insulating sports from the volatile nature of Ghanaian partisan politics, particularly as national football — the country’s most followed sport — continues to face public scrutiny over its performance, leadership, and development strategy.
–BY Issah Olegor
