Awiah elected GCA president

Former national team all-rounder, Samson Kwasi Awe Awiah, has been elected the President of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA).

After his election, he pledged to decentralise the sport and ensure nationwide representation in national team selection.

Awiah, who polled 11 votes out of 25 valid ballots cast at the elective congress held last Saturday at the Cantonments Police Station Mosque in Accra, defeated incumbent Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Asare, who garnered nine votes, while Prince Eugene King managed five.

The victory marks a significant shift for the GCA, which has faced governance disputes in the lead-up to the congress.

Petitions had been filed alleging constitutional breaches and irregularities in the composition of the voting delegates list, with critics questioning the legitimacy of the expired executive committee overseeing the process. The congress itself proceeded despite these concerns.

The outgoing President, Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Asare, leaves behind a mixed record. His administration oversaw notable milestones, including the installation of Ghana’s first turf wickets at the Achimota Oval in 2023, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour’s visit to Ghana in 2022 and cricket’s inclusion as a sports code at the 2024 African Games hosted in Accra.

Samuel Nana Ekow Biney Asamoah secured the vice presidency with 17 votes, defeating incumbent Oscar Nii-Adza Provencal, who polled eight.

Devasia Shijo, Nihal Abbas Ali Safi and Vinod Punnackal were elected board members, while Angela Cassandra Allotey retained the treasurer’s position with 21 votes against Dharmendra Thadani’s four.

In his victory speech, the new GCA boss emphasised regional associations as a priority, promising active involvement of cricketers at the grassroots level.

A speech read on behalf of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Richard Akpokavie, by the GOC General Secretary Mohammed Muniru Kassim, urged the new board to prioritise “grassroots development, youth participation, good governance and the promotion of cricket at both national and international levels.”