President of the Ghana Olympic Committee Richard Akpokavie has praised the Ghana Rugby Football Union for being the best team sport in Ghana in line with Olympic chatter without state or corporate sponsorship. He explained that a team sport like Rugby is very expensive to run without sustainable financial Support particularly from government but Ghana Rugby remains competitive on the African continent.
He was addressing delegates over the weekend at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Rugby Football Union at the Labadi beach hotel in Accra. The AGM saw through and adopted an audited account, a new constitution and new code of conduct to guide members of the union and regional associations as well as accredited clubs.
Mr. Akpokavie who was elected GOC President a year ago praised the GRFU for standing out among several Olympic sports disciplines in Ghana.
‘’Your President is a member of the GOC board and I can assure you that she’s one of the most hard-working members of the GOC board that took office a year ago’’ he told the GRFU delegates, adding, ‘’Team sports is an expensive endeavor and for Rugby sevens you’re looking at 20 to 25 players in addition to a technical team in any competition and yet your union has not let Ghana down even without government support’’.
The GOC President expressed satisfaction at the stronger governance framework that has taken hold in the Ghana Rugby Football Union under the current board and praised its former President Mr. Herbert Mensah, who is currently President of Rugby Africa, the continental governing body of rugby, for single-handedly supporting the development and growth of rugby in Ghana from his personal resources.
‘’Anyone who puts their personal resources into supporting a team sport
in this country deserves our gratitude and we thank Herbert Mensah for what he has done and continues to do for Ghana rugby’’.
The well – organized Ghana rugby AGM was a milestone in the ongoing effort to restructure and reposition the union as a shining standard of corporate governance in sports administration inline with Rugby Africa and World Rugby standards.
While some delegates were physically present, others joined the AGM via zoom with observers from the Ghana Olympic Committee, the National Sports Authority as well as Rugby Africa.
Mr. Akpokavie also praised Ghana rugby for putting many women in its leadership positions.
Out of the 32 rugby unions in Africa, only 3 countries have a female President, one of which is Ghana. This sets Ghana apart as a pacesetter in women empowerment in rugby.
