Ghana targets WADA compliance before 2023 All-Africa Games

22nd Nov 2018 | Source: graphic.com.gh

The Chairman of Ghana's National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC), Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie

The Chairman of Ghana's National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC), Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie is confident that the country will become compliant to the World Anti-Doping Association's (WADA) rules before it hosts the All-Africa Games in 2023.

Dr Afriyie's Committee has been tasked by Ghana's Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) to produce a legal framework that will lead to the establishment of an independent national anti-doping commission.

As part of measures to ensure the creation of the framework, Dr Afriyie says his Committee will engage with members of the Africa Zone VI Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) on Friday to ensure that Ghana becomes code compliant and avoid being banned from international sporting competitions.

"The Committee was inaugurated last September and we were concerned with organising the RADO conference," Dr Afriyie said in an interview on the sidelines of the Africa Zone XI RADO Board Meeting on Wednesday.

"On Friday (November 21), my team will be here and Ghana is faced with the Code Compliance Questionnaire, an over 300-page questionnaire and if you don't tackle it before the deadline you become nin-compliant and what it means is that you don't take part in any international games.

"We are hosting the 2023 games, the Black Stars have games and everybody expects us to be involved in international tournaments so we can't afford to be banned. Our main task is to become code complaint this year and we will work on the legislative and pass the law in 2020".

HOW TO BECOME CODE COMPLIANT

WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO BECOME CODE COMPLIANT?

Step 1: Acceptance

Agree to the principles of the Code and agree to implement and comply with the Code.

Step 2: Implementation

Amend organization rules and policies to include the mandatory articles and principles of the Code.

Step 3: Enforcement

Enforce amended organization's rules and policies in accordance with the Code.

In an address at the RADO meeting, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah said the government was committed to ensuring that all Ghanaian athletes compete fairly in the face of increasing pressures to win medals and trophies.

He also expressed commended WADA and the RADO for adopting a harmonious approach to combating doping in sports on the African Africa.

Mr Asiamah said his outfit has allocated an office space for the NADC to carry out their activities and will meet all international financial obligations of the body.