The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, has sworn into office a 13-member Board of the Ghana Anti-Doping Agency (GADA), with former Ghana Athletics president Prof. Francis Dodoo appointed as Chairperson.
The ceremony marks a major milestone following the passage of the Anti-Doping Act, 2024, and the formal establishment of the National Anti-Doping Agency.
Other members of the board include Mr Killian Kwame Abrampah, Mr Michael Yennah Ngminlasongna, Dr George Tsey Sabblah, Madam Hazel Juddy Mensah, Madam Anna Pearl Akiwumi Siriboe, Mr Gaetan Charles Adangabey, and Wilhelmina Asamoah. The rest are ACP Asiedu Eric Asamoah, Mr Apollonius Osei–Akoto Asare, Mr Stephen Nii Baani Appiah, Dr Christian Hagin, and Madam Wosiela Eve Bobie.
Addressing the newly sworn-in board, Mr Adams described the moment as a decisive step in safeguarding the integrity of Ghanaian sport.
With the passage of the Anti-Doping Act, the establishment of the National Anti-Doping Agency, and now the swearing-in of this first board, Ghana has taken a firm and irreversible step forward
The minister stressed that the board’s loyalty must be to the law, athletes, and the integrity of sport, rather than convenience or personal relationships.
Your task is not to intimidate or sensationalise; it is to educate, to prevent, to protect, and when necessary, to enforce,” he stated. “This board must think beyond elite competitions and extend its focus to schools, community clubs, youth academies, coaches, parents, and administrators.
Mr Adams further urged the board to position Ghana as a credible leader in global anti-doping efforts.
“Your work will determine whether our athletes compete without suspicion, whether our flag is raised without doubt, and whether our children inherit a system that values fairness,” he added.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Dodoo acknowledged the reputational risks associated with weak anti-doping systems and pledged the board’s commitment to building a robust and credible framework.
When anti-doping systems are weak and athletes consistently test positive, the country’s reputation suffers,” he said. “It is therefore incumbent on us to put in place a system that supports Ghana’s ambition to become a great sporting nation.
He emphasised that the board’s work would not be limited to elite sports but would also target the grassroots, ensuring young athletes are educated on clean sport from the earliest stages of their development.
