The Ghana Rugby Football Union elected Mr. Herbert Mensah, former Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC, as its new and second President at its national congress held at the Media Centre of the Accra Sports Stadium.
Herbert Mensah takes over the leadership of Ghana Rugby from the founder and first President of Ghana Rugby, Mrs. Gifty E. Annan-Myers, who did not contest for the position of President.
The other nominee for President, Mr. Ernest Hanson, who withdrew from the race, was appointed as Vice-President pending the nomination of a Vice President at a yet-to-be-announced special meeting of delegates.
Other elected officials to the Board of the GRFU were:
Executive Members: Mr. Abdul Aziz Issah (Secretary Greater Accra Region) and Mr. Bismark Amponsah (Executive Member Western Region) were elected unopposed.
Technical Director: After a hot contest, Mr. George Nana Kodwo Kumah (Founder Western & Central Rugby Academy –Regional Association) was elected to the position of Technical Director.
Treasurer: Mr. James Nunoo (Executive Member Western & Central Regions) got the nod for the position of Treasurer.
Regional Representative: Mr. Minta Nyarko (President Western & Central Rugby Academy – Regional Association) was elected as Regional Representative. Officials from the National Sports Council were delighted with the appointment of Mr. Herbert Mensah whom they said have changed the face of football and indeed sports administration in Ghana during his tenure as Chairman of Kotoko.
In an interview Mr. Herbert Mensah praised the founder and outgoing President of Ghana Rugby, Mrs. Gifty Annan-Myers, for her many years of selfless service to rugby and indeed to sports development in Ghana.
“What Gifty achieved can only be applauded and the new Executive Council is grateful for the solid foundation she and many other selfless people have laid,” Herbert said.
According to Mr. Herbert Mensah, the new Executive and indeed all officials in the country who are so passionately involved in rugby have a daunting task ahead to revise the medium to long-term strategy for Ghana Rugby and to build the necessary structures and resources to make Ghana a force in world rugby.
Mr. Herbert Mensah further stated, “If a country like Swaziland with 1.9 million people could manage to become a full member of the International Rugby Board (IRB), there is no reason why Ghana with more than 25 million people cannot in the foreseeable future take part in ranking tournaments.”
“One of the major challenges Ghana Rugby will have to face is the funding of the required activities and programmes. In this regard we would like to heartily thank both the National Sports Council as well as our past and current sponsors such as GGT, DHL, Beaufort, Nurevas, PriceWaterhouse, SG-SSB and many others for their support in the past. The challenge going forward will require their continued and hopefully increased support,” Mr. Mensah said.