The Women in the Sports Commission of Ghana was on Thursday officially inaugurated at the Theodocia Okoh National Hockey Stadium Conference Hall under the auspices of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).
The historical program was graced by distinguished dignitaries including the USA Ambassador HE Stephanie Sanders Sullivan, Japanese Ambassador HE Tsutomu Himeno, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Ghana Hon. Freda Prempeh, Ghana Olympic Committee President Ben Nunoo Mensah, Nii Adote Din, Vice President of the GOC, President of Women Sports Commission, National Sports Authority Mr Saka Acquaye, Senior Officers from Police and Prisons Service, as well as representatives from the Ghana Education Service and University of Ghana among others under the theme; Gender equality and female opportunities in decision making at the executive level.
The president of the GOC tasked the commission to help reshape, promote and establish a cordial relationship among women in sports both local and international.
The USA Ambassador shared some of her experiences as an athlete and diplomat and expressed her joy for being part of the event. She said Ghana has done well to advance basic human rights and the UN sustainability goal number 5. She urged Ghanaian female athletes to train hard to take part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Ambassador Sullivan underscored the need to galvanize a generation of young leaders who apply skills of teamwork and leadership learned and practised through sports to solve society’s challenges.
It is her hope that progress on the national level through the Women’s Sports Commission will also boost gender equality in access to sports throughout Ghana’s school systems and in sports leagues nationwide.
The Japanese Ambassador hinted that a place in the hometown of the late Dr Nugochi has been prepared for Ghanaian sportsmen and women to train ahead of the Games.
The Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon Isaac Asiamah in a speech read on his behalf commended the Commission on the historic occasion and urged them to engage other stakeholders.
Hon Deputy Minister Freda 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. She also added that the commission should strive to ensure gender equality at all levels.
The 7 – member Women in Sports Commission of Ghana is made up of Elizabeth Safoa King, the chairperson, and executives members; Roselind Amoh, DDP Patience Baffoe-Bonne, DCP (Dr) Mabel Aboah, Dr Harnet Amui, Mrs Joyce Mahama of WOSPAG and Mrs Gloria Commodore of WISA.
The hockey icon, who doubles as the Commission President, stated emphatically that her term in office will not only ensure gender equality but will organized workshops and seminars with well-resourced personnel to encourage more girls to have an interest and participate in sports.
A forum under the theme Gender Equality was held after the inauguration and the invited guests discussed a lot of issues including psychology and physiology of women, mechanisms for scholarships, sustaining women in sports, empowerment, education and sports, job opportunities in sports, plans and structures for women in sports, dressing of sportswomen and others.
