Koforidua: Mr. Richard Kofi Akpokavie, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), has urged leaders of the National Federations to prioritize athletes in their endeavors. He emphasized, "You are a federation president or secretary because of your athletes. Without them, there will be no federation to run."

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Akpokavie made this call at a two-day retreat for National Federations organized by the GOC in Koforidua. He highlighted the GOC's commitment to establishing an effective Athletes Commission to amplify athletes' voices. Additionally, the GOC intends to support athletes' training programs with grants and scholarships, aiming to prepare them for competitions and create a high-performance athlete-centered environment.

The President also urged National Federations to collaborate with the GOC to create a lasting legacy for Ghana sports. He expressed his desire for a reputation where corporate institutions are already aware of the GOC before any outreach, achievable through federations working together to highlight positive aspects of both themselves and the GOC.

During his presentation on the SWOT analysis of the GOC, Mr. Akpokavie explained the importance of the analysis for federations to understand how to rebrand sports in Ghana and enhance the image of the GOC. He acknowledged the GOC's recognition by international bodies such as the International Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Sports as strengths, alongside the country's achievements in the Olympics and existing relationships with government and sponsors.

He identified weaknesses, including weak talent identification and development pathways, governance and administrative capacity gaps, and insufficient marketing and visibility. He noted opportunities in untapped corporate and media partnerships, digitalization for fan engagement, and leveraging youth demographics for long-term sports growth.

However, Mr. Akpokavie pointed out threats such as political interference, low public trust due to a lack of transparency, and talent drain with athletes migrating abroad due to insufficient support. He encouraged heads of federations to implement their learnings for mutual growth and invited further discussions for development.