Dr Afriyie Appointed To Chair National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC)

Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore, has been appointed as the chairman of a nine-member National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) for Ghana.

The committee is to produce a legal framework, that would ensure that Ghanaian athletes, compete fairly on both local and international platforms.

Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, Minister for Youth and Sports, who inaugurated the board, charged the NADC to among others to come up with a framework that would lead to the establishment of an independent national anti-doping commission, which would ensure that, athletes refrain from using banned substances in any discipline.

According to him, Ghana being one of the 43 signatories to UNESCO's International Convention against Doping in Sports, the country was committed to the fight against doping in sports.

"There has always been the need for the establishment of a national anti-doping commission, which would require countries to compete fairly as sanctioned by UNESCO convention.

'The ministry in aiding the cause for a free and fair competition has been regular in the payments of its anti-World Doping Agency contributions".

He noted that, the committee, which was made of capable Ghanaians, who have distinguished themselves in their area of expertise, must come out with sound legislative and legal framework that would stand the test of time in fighting doping in sports.

"Cheating must not be allowed to go on and that can only happen when we have a sound legal framework that can fight doping in sports. Today, it's a good news for Ghana sports, as we have taken a giant step in ensuring, that we have an anti-doping commission," he said.

Dr Afriyie, speaking on behalf of the team said, "the committee definitely would look towards developing programs, that would make sure that Ghanaian sportsmen and women were always clean in their various fields'.

According to him, the work had begun long ago with 'doping officers conducting random tests on players all the time, so, it's not as if, work has not been done. We have been working hard and we would develop a policy that would make efforts against anti-doping very effective".

The NADC being the third of its kind in Africa with only South Africa and Kenya having independent anti-doping bodies, would have Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah as the Vice Chairman, with Mr Emmanuel Dormenyah (Ghana Education Service), Mrs Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng (Food and Drugs Authority), Mr Mark Harrison Amankwa (National Pharmacy Council), Dr Prince David Pambo (Medical and Dental Council, Mrs Sefakor Batse (Attorney Generals Department), Dr Aryetey and Paul Atchoe (Vice President of the GOC) all being members.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NADC, would leave Ghana for Seychelles for the World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Committee Meeting, which would in the interim develop programs to enhance operations of anti-doping officials in Ghana.