The Women in Sports Commission newly constituted by the Ghana Olympic Committee ©GOC

The Women in Sports Commission of Ghana has been officially inaugurated at the National Hockey Stadium in Accra under the auspices of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).

The President of the GOC, Ben Nunoo Mensah, said he hoped the Commission would be able to help reshape, promote and establish a cordial relationship among women in sports both at local and international levels.

The seven-member Women in Sports Commission of Ghana is made up of Elizabeth Safoa King, the chairperson, and executives members Roselind Amoh, Patience Baffoe-Bonne, Dr Mabel Aboah, Dr. Harnet Amui, Joyce Mahama and Gloria Commodore,

King is the former director of the country's Prison Service, vice-president of the Ghana Hockey Association, treasurer of the Africa Hockey Federation and a member of the Executive Board at the International Hockey Federation. 

Those present at the launch in Ghana's capital included the United States Ambassador, Stephanie Sanders Sullivan, Japanese Ambassador Tsutomu Himeno, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Ghana Freda Prempeh, Nii Adote Din, vice-president of the GOC, and chairperson of the Women Sports Commission, National Sports Authority, Saka Acquaye.

Gender equality was the topic of discussion when the Women in Sports Commission was set up by the Ghana Olympic Committee during a ceremony at the National Hockey Stadium in Accra ©GOC
Gender equality was the topic of discussion when the Women in Sports Commission was set up by the Ghana Olympic Committee during a ceremony at the National Hockey Stadium in Accra ©GOC

Also at the occasion were senior officers from the Police and Prisons Service, as well as representatives from the Ghana Education Service and University of Ghana as the gathering addressed the theme of  gender equality and female opportunities in decision-making at the executive level.

The US Ambassador, a former collegiate athlete in ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer, shared some her experiences as an athlete and diplomat.

Sullivan urged Ghanaian female athletes to train hard to take part in next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo and expressed the hope that progress on the national level through the Women’s Sports Commission would also boost gender equality in access to sports throughout Ghana’s school systems and in sports leagues nationwide.

Ghana's Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah - in a speech read on his behalf - commended the Commission on the historic occasion and urged them to engage other stakeholders.

Prempeh congratulated the Commission for this initiative and also challenged them to lift the face of women in sports in Ghana and speak for the voiceless in sports.