The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr Richard Akpokavie Esq., and Secretary-General, Mr Muniru Mohammed, have attended the landmark Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland. They were joined by Ghana's Chef de Mission (CDM) for the upcoming 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Mr Ernest Danso, for a facility inspection during the period.

President Akpokavie and Secretary-General Mohammed represented Commonwealth Sports Ghana (CSG) at the pivotal General Assembly, which ushered in a transformative new chapter for the global sporting body, taking major and impactful decisions to shape the future of the movement.

In a move signalling a broader mandate beyond the Games, the General Assembly approved a historic change of the organisation’s name from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to Commonwealth Sports, which will continue to organise the Commonwealth Games and oversee all sports-related matters within the Commonwealth nations.

India secured the coveted right to host the Centenary Games in 2030 in Ahmedabad, emerging victorious after a competitive bid process against Nigeria. Hosting rights for the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games were officially confirmed for the Mediterranean island nation of Malta.

Dr Donald Rukare, President of the Uganda Olympic Committee, achieved a historic milestone for Africa by being elected President of Commonwealth Sports. Dr Rukare—a lawyer, lecturer, member of the World Aquatics Bureau, and head of the Ugandan National Council of Sports—becomes the first African to lead Commonwealth Sports. His election is expected to bring a fresh perspective and renewed focus to the Commonwealth sporting movement.

Before the conclusion of the General Assembly, delegates, including the CGA Ghana representatives, were given the opportunity to tour the proposed venues for the Glasgow 2026 Games.

The Chef de Mission of Commonwealth Sports Ghana (CSG), together with the CSG President, Richard Akpokavie, and Secretary-General, Mohammed Muniru, used the Congress to engage in productive discussions with the Glasgow 2026 Organising Committee. The GOC leadership also inspected potential future hosting venues to assess Ghana’s readiness to align with the renewed and invigorated vision for Commonwealth Sports. These preparatory engagements covered key logistical issues vital for Ghana’s team, including ticketing, accommodation, pre-Games camping arrangements, visas and accreditation.

The visit, along with subsequent local inspections conducted by President Akpokavie, reaffirms the GOC’s commitment to staying abreast of international best practices and ensuring that Team Ghana is well-prepared for the new era of Commonwealth Sports, beginning with the Glasgow 2026 Games.

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Visit to Ghana High Commission

Ghana’s delegation to the Commonwealth also paid a courtesy call on the Ghana High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Mrs Sabah Zita Benson, to discuss Ghana’s participation in next year’s Commonwealth Games and explore collaboration to ensure a successful and impactful event for Ghana.

The delegation further discussed engagement with relevant ministries and agencies to explore Ghana’s participation in an African Village for all African countries during next year’s Games—a platform that would promote Ghana to the world. The meeting agreed that a liaison officer from the High Commission would work with the CDM to ensure smooth collaboration in preparation for the Games.

GOC President Richard Akpokavie stated:
“The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be hosted in Glasgow, and these advance engagements are crucial to ensuring smooth preparations, giving Team Ghana the best chance to win medals and make the nation proud. We are also exploring ways to promote Ghana during the Games.”

Source: www.ghanaolympic.org