| Ghana Olympic Committee | |
| Size: | 150px |
| Country: | Ghana |
| Code: | GHA |
| Created: | 1950 |
| Recognized: | 1951[1] |
| Association: | ANOCA |
| Headquarters: | Accra, Ghana |
| President: | Ben Nunoo Mensah |
| Secretary General: | Richard Akpokavie |
The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), formally known as Gold Coast Olympics Committee was established in 1950 and recognized the following year by International Olympic Committee.[2] The Ghana Olympic Committee is committed to developing, organizing, and protecting Olympism or the Olympic Movement throughout the country.[3] [4] And ever since participating in the Summer Olympic Games in 1952 and the Commonwealth Games in 1954, during the Gold Coast period, the organization has been responsive to promoting the ideals of both Games, with respect to the ordinances set fourth by the Olympic Charter as well as the constitution of the CGF .[5]
The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) was established by the Olympic Charter in 1951 and is an incorporated non-profit making organisation registered in Ghana by the Registrar of Companies under the Companies Code 1963, Act 179, Company Registration Numbered G100.
The highest decision making authority of the GOC is the General Assembly, which convenes as a Congress every year, and elects a governing Board quadrennially, normally at the Congress that takes place after the Summer Olympic Games. [6]
The day-to-day administration of the GOC is delegated by the Board to other President and the members of the Executive Committee. The GOC is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the National Olympic Committee of Ghana, and by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) as the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA).
The mission of the Ghana Olympic Committee is to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Ghana, and to promote the ideals of the Commonwealth Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the Constitution of the CGF. To fulfill this mandate, the GOC cooperates with both governmental or non-governmental bodies. The GOC propagates the aims and ideas of the Olympic Movement and seeks to use sports to improve the quality of the life of the people of Ghana.
The president is elected by the Session in a secret ballot among the IOC Members.
Today, the president is elected for a term of office of eight years, renewable once for a period of four years.
The current President is Thomas Bach
*Demetrius Vikelas was the first IOC President (1894-1896) and, with a two-year mandate, the president who held the office for the shortest period of time.
*Pierre de Coubertin was the second IOC President in 1896
*Henri de Baillet-Latour became the third IOC President in 1925
*J. Sigfrid Edstrom, fourth IOC President from 1937 to 1942
* Avery Brundage, fifth IOC President from 1952 to 1972.
*Lord Killanin, became the sixth IOC President. Sir Michael Morris, Lord Killanin, the third Baron Killanin of Dublin and Spiddal, succeeded Avery Brundage on 21 August 1972 to become the sixth President of the International Olympic Committee.
*Juan Antonio Samaranch, became the seventh IOC President. Juan Antonio Samaranch Torrelo, the Marquis de Samaranch, was elected as the seventh President of the IOC in 1980, succeeding Lord Killanin.
*Jacques Rogge, became the eighth IOC President. Jacques Rogge succeeded Samaranch as eighth IOC President in 2001, having represented Belgium in sailing at three Olympic Games (1968, 1972 and 1976) – making him the second IOC President (after Avery Brundage) to have competed in sporting events at the Olympic Games.
The mission of the Ghana Olympic Commettee (GOC) is to develop and improve the Ghana Olympic movements. Also, they are to promote the ideas of the Commonwealth games in accordance with the Commonwealth charter.[9]