The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), through the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Funding and Scholarships for Athletes has presented a total amount of $150,000 to 10 Ghanaian athletes to support their activities.
A breakdown of that amount would see each athlete receive monthly stipends of $750 within that period.
At the presentation ceremony held on Wednesday, the GOC President, Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, presented the first tranche of $3000 to the athletes for a period of four months.
The beneficiary athletes, include three boxers – Abdul Wahid Omar, Abraham Mensah and Joseph Commey; two weightlifters – Sandra Owusu and Winifred Ntumi; two swimmers – Abeiku Jackson and Kaya Forson; Judoka Rashid Alhassan and athletes Benjamin Azamati and Deborah Acquah.
Addressing them, Mr Nunoo Mensah urged the athletes to use the funds judiciously to attract other scholarships for more athletes in the country.
Mr Nunoo Mensah, who also spoke on behalf of the GOC Solidarity Sub Committee asked the athletes to use the money for their development.
“When these funds are utilised judiciously and accounted for, it paves the way for the next tranche and make it possible for other athletes to also benefit from it,” he stated.
He announced the receipt of support for federations, including cycling, netball and badminton which would soon be presented.
“It is the responsibility of everyone to support national team athletes who sacrifice so much to win laurels for the country on the international stage. Let us support them so they would win more medals at the Olympic Games,” he stressed.
Providing details on the scholarships, the Administrative Manager of the GOC, Madam Farida Iddriss, said the athletes went through a rigorous selection process from the GOC and IOC before being considered for the support.
“The criteria requires that an athlete must represent the nation at international competitions, must be of good behaviour and exhibit some level of performance in competitions,” she stated.
“Each federation presented two names (male and female) out of which 10 athletes were selected after the process by the IOC and were thought to have been consistent over the period,” she disclosed.
Amateur boxer, Abdul Wahid Omar on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the IOC and the GOC for the support and vowed to qualify for the next Olympic Games.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
