President John Mahama has appointed Professor Francis Dodoo, a former President of Ghana Athletics and the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), as the Presidential Advisor for the National Anti-Corruption Programme.

Prof Dodoo, who is currently serving his second term as Chairman of the World Athletics Governance Commission, is tasked with playing a critical role in Ghana’s renewed fight against corruption.

During President Mahama’s first tenure, Prof Dodoo served as a Presidential staffer while also leading Ghana Athletics and the GOC. However, he stepped down as President of the athletics governing body after losing the GOC elections in 2017 to Ben Nunoo Mensah.

Since stepping down from local leadership roles, he has chaired the World Athletics Governance Commission, which is responsible for promoting ethical compliance, enhancing governance, and upholding the highest integrity standards in the sport.

In 2023, World Athletics appointed him to lead an advisory group tasked with assessing the operations of Russian and Belarusian athletics associations in international competitions.

Beyond sports, Prof Dodoo boasts a rich academic and professional background.

He is a Liberal Arts Research Professor of Sociology and Demography and has held dual appointments at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Ghana. He was also the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Development at the University of Ghana.

In recognition of his academic excellence, he was awarded the prestigious British Academy Global Professorship for fellowship at Oxford University’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science. He is also the founding Director and Board Chair of the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) in Kenya and Chair of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) board.

Prof Dodoo’s achievements extend to governance on the global stage, serving on the Governance and Integrity Committee of the Commonwealth Games Federation and advising various national governments and international organisations on social and development issues.

In 2006, he was awarded the Grand Medal of the Republic of Ghana for his contributions to the nation. A four-time Olympian and Ghana’s Sportsman of the Year in 1987, he has left an indelible mark on sports and academia.