Africa Rugby, NSA appoint Normalisation Committee to oversee operations and elections of Ghana Rugby

Africa Rugby in conjunction with the National Sports Authority (NSA), has announced the formation of a five-member Normalisation Committee to oversee the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and manage the election of new national officers by the close of 2024.

The committee is chaired by Mohammed Sahnoon, representing the Ghana Olympic Committee, and includes Dave Gilbert, representing both World Rugby and Africa Rugby; Abdul-Majeed Bawa, Deputy Director General of the NSA; Bawa Fuseini, representing Ghana Athletics; and Erica Amoako, representing the GRFU. 

The formation of the Committee represents a step towards electing new leadership for the GRFU following the resignation of Herbert Mensah as President in August 2023, after his election as President of Rugby Africa.

The GRFU has been beset by legal challenges since 2021, which have slowed the sport’s growth and raised concerns about potential suspension from Africa Rugby. 

The Normalisation Committee has been tasked with a critical mandate to restore stability and facilitate a successful transition in the leadership of GR.

The committee’s primary responsibility is to oversee the day-to-day management of the GRFU, ensuring smooth operations and working closely with Africa Rugby to align the union with global standards. This includes ensuring that Ghana Rugby complies with the practices, rules, and regulations set by World Rugby and Africa Rugby. The committee will also focus on organizing and conducting an elective congress by the end of 2024 to select new national officers. Throughout this process, the committee members themselves will be ineligible to contest in the elections, ensuring transparency and fairness.

Additionally, the committee is expected to foster cooperation between the GRFU and its international counterparts, particularly Africa Rugby, to address any issues of non-compliance and prevent Ghana from facing further disciplinary actions, such as suspension from international competitions. Their work will lay the foundation for Ghana Rugby’s future success by ensuring that the union operates in line with global rugby standards.

Speaking at the introduction of the Normalisation Committee, NSA Board Chairman and Acting Director-General. Seth Panwum thanked Africa Rugby for its efforts to resolve the challenges facing the GRFU. 

He noted that the four-year legal battle had significantly hampered the sport's development, risking Ghana’s participation in African and global rugby activities. 

“The prolonged court litigations have delayed the growth of rugby in Ghana. However, the Normalisation Committee now provides the opportunity to restore stability, ensuring we avoid suspension from African rugby activities and competitions,” Panwum said.

Dave Gilbert of Africa Rugby also emphasised that the primary objective of the Normalisation Committee is to restore Ghana Rugby to its former position.

He explained that World Rugby and Africa Rugby are committed to growing the sport across the continent and expressed optimism that this initiative will get players back on the field, focusing on the development of the sport rather than past challenges.

Ghana has also been given the honour of hosting the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens Cup Championships in Accra, a significant step forward for the country’s involvement in international rugby. 

Panwum added that the government has made substantial investments in sports infrastructure, particularly for rugby, and remains committed to supporting all sporting disciplines to achieve their potential.

He said as the GRFU enters this new phase, Normalisation Committee member Erica Amoako will oversee all communications related to the sport in Ghana.

Panwum further urged to cooperate fully with the committee, as it works to fulfill its mandate and lay the groundwork for the revitalization of Ghana rugby on the international stage.