IAAF directs GAA to streamline constitution or face sanctions

Accra, June 14, GNA- The International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), has directed the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), to streamline its constitution in conformity with international standards or face sanctions. The IAAF has also ordered the GAA to organise a congress to elect executive officials.

The directive reverses the mandate of the National Sports Council (NSC) to appoint personnel to the association under the Supreme Military Council (SMC) Decree 54. Mr Ekow Wilson, General Secretary of the association revealed this to the GNA Sports in Accra on Tuesday.

The directive was given during a meeting between officials of the GAA and Mr Leonard Chuene, Area Representative of the IAAF to discuss the circumstances leading to the suspension of the annual 15,000 dollars grant to Ghana. The grant was suspended due to the alleged wrongful removal of Mr George Lutterodt, as the Chairman of the GAA. The replacement of Mr Lutterodt with Sandy Osei Agyemang, a former Olympian, was viewed by the IAAF as government interference.

The GAA has also been tasked to organise separate athletics championships every year beside the annual National Sports Festival and other events.

The National Sports Council (NSC) in May reconstituted the Management Board of the various associations in accordance with SMC Decree. Mr Lutterodt who is challenging his removal from office told GNA Sports in a fierce response, that "his hands are clean" and asked the GAA to come out clear on the issue. "All am asking is for is the right thing to be done". The former Chairman said a letter he wrote at the request of the IAAF indicated that some members of the NSC who felt uncomfortable with his seal for a transparent administration masterminded his removal and dared them to prove otherwise.

Contrary to speculations that his reaction sprang out of bitterness for losing the position he held for four years, the soft spoken Lutterodt said, "whoever says am peeved about my removal must surely be dreaming. All I seek is the forward march of our sports and will not be intimidated by such comments". The former Chairman is expected to meet officials of the IAAF currently in the country to attend the 11th General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) plus the GAA on Thursdays.