African Amputee Football President dismisses claim

Mr Francis Adjetey Sowah

Federation, has dismissed claims that Ghana Paralympic Committee (GPC) has been formed with a seven-member committee to manage the sport.

He told Ghana News Agency in an interview that media reports about the issue are not true.

Mr Sowah said at an emergency meeting of the GPC on July 2, at the Accra Sports Stadium, no such decision was taken.

'As African President of Amputee football it will be an indictment on my integrity and to look on unconcerned for these unwarranted matters to be perpetuated within the disable fraternity, especially amputees,' he said.

He said the functions of administration, rules and regulation of Amputee football is not an International Paralympic Committee sanctioned sports, that would have given the impetus to the GPC to arbitrary and indiscriminately appoint people at will.

'The GPC have no capacity or locus, because the sport is an autonomous body on its own merits, from the World, Africa and beyond,' he stressed.

The African Amputee President said the core functions of the GPC is to coordinate, maintain, promote and create an enabling environment for disabled sports men to participate in IPC sanctioned programmes and competitions, but not to appoint executives for the various disciplines, such as basketball, amputee table tennis, celebral palsy, and sitting volley ball.

'It is needless to say that GPC constitute elected representatives of associations and federations at its sitting as it pertains in Ghana Olympic Committee.

He said: 'Ghana Amputee Football Federation is well recognised for disabled sports and any interference in member associations would greatly affect the development and promotion of these viable and potential sports, which has full-fledged aspirant's athletes to unearth talents.

'As President of the Continent of Africa for disabled sports, I believe there is the need to eschew any negativity, and that calls for a concerted efforts and cooperation of other stakeholders to ensure that the right perspectives is put in place to benefit all and sundry,' he said.

GNA