A group calling itself Concerned Group of Ghana Table Tennis Association has petitioned the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Authority over what it described as irregularities within the association.
The group, in their petition highlighted four key points as their grave concerns which need attention.
Their concerns include ‘tempering with Article 1.7.1 of the GTTA Constitution in which they claimed: “illegal alteration has been made into the GTTA 2010 constitution leading to a version called the 2015 constitution.”
It further pointed out the expiration of mandate in the office where it said the 4-year term of the current GTTA National Executives ended on May 4, 2023, but they have failed to hold elections as prescribed by the constitution before the expiry of their tenure.
According to the petition “de facto National Chairman” has announced December 22 as the date for the election although it makes their tenure in office unconstitutional.
The petition which was signed by Abraham Aidoo, Central Regional Chairman and Spokesperson of the group added that there hasn’t been an Annual General Meeting (AGM) since 2019.
“The national chairman has refused to call for annual general meeting which is fundamental to the development of our sport since 2019 (for reasons best known to him alone. Runs GTTA as his personal property) This is against our constitution and that of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). It is a disrespect to article 1.6.1.2 of the GTTA constitution and all member association as well.”
Lastly, the petition noted that the leadership of the GTTA has deliberately not taken annual dues of its membership since 2019.
Owing to the aforementioned concerns raised, the petition is seeking urgent redress from the Sports Ministry and the NSA to put the sport on higher pedestal.
Read below the full statement
GHANA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION CONCERNED GROUP
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY
ACCRA
25TH MAY, 2023.
Dear Director General,
PETITION AGAINST IRREGULARITIES IN GHANA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION
( THE GREAT 2023 PETITION)
We, the under listed member associations and stakeholders of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) hereby petition your high office to give urgent attention to and redress our grievance based on the following grounds.
1. TEMPERING WITH ARTICLE 1.7.1 OF THE GTTA CONSTITUTION. An illegal alteration has been made into the GTTA 2010 constitution leading to a version called the 2015 constitution. In the 2010 constitution, on ELECTIONS and APPOINTMENT (1.7.1) it states clearly that all members of the board as well as members of the executive committee, shall be elected at an AGM in the year following the year of Olympic and shall serve for a four-year term, but may be eligible for re- election for a final term. By implication it means, one can serve for a maximum of 8 years. (Please find attached a copy of the 2010 constitution).
Fast forward, on the 4th of May 2015, an EGM was held at the press Centre of the Accra Sports Stadium. In that EGM, article (1.7.1) of the 2010 constitution was NOT amended nor even DISCUSSED nor TABLED FOR CONSIDERATION.
Under the surreptitious 2015 constitution, in ELECTIONS and APPOINTMENT (1.7.1) states that all members of the board as well as members of the Executive committee, except for the secretary General and chief coach who shall be appointed by the national sports council, shall be full time officials of the national sports council, shall be elected at an AGM in the year following the year of the Olympic and shall serve for 4 year term renewable for a maximum of 3 terms. This gives the executives a total of 12 years (find attached a copy of the 2015 constitution).
On this occasion, there was absolutely no due process by way of voting in favor or against as required by article 1.19.5.2.1 of both the 2010 and the 2015 constitutions. Please find attached for your study a copy of the 2015 EGM report on constitutional review. The amendments made were very clear and it states that “three (3) executives position were included in the constitution. They were (1) 2nd Vice President (2) Sponsorship or Communication Director (3) Executive member” We will therefore be pleased if you could use your good office to exercise justice and order the association to unconditionally revert to the 2010 constitution on 1.7.1. Again, Chairman Mawuko Afadzinu and all those involved in this shameful act should be brought to book as they have brought the good name of GTTA and that matter ITTF into disrepute. (the should be banned from all GTTA and IITF sanctioned programs.
2. MANDATE OF OFFICE EXPIRED:
The 4 year term of the current GTTA National Executives ended on the 4th of May, 2023. Elections should have been held in accordance with the constitution prior to the expiry of their tenure. Unfortunately, the “de facto National Chairman has announced that election will be in December 22nd 2023. This means that he and his executives will be at post unconstitutionally and de. Facto for another 7 months. This makes their tenure 4 years 7months which is against our constitution. We vehemently disapprove and disagree. The election date for 22nd December 2023 will not be suitable for members from other regions especially those in the up north. We therefore seek the following from your good office.
I. Election should be held in accordance with the constitution 10 weeks from the date of this letter.
II. The National Chairman by his actions have shown that he is bent on hanging on to the power by fair or foul means. We therefore want an interim management body to take over the affairs of the association and run a free, fair and transparent election.
III. Photo album with contacts of delegates should be made available at least 2 weeks before the final election date
3. NO AGM FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS:
The national chairman has refused to call for annual general meeting which is fundamental to the development of our sport since 2019 (for reasons best known to him alone. Runs GTTA as his personal property) This is against our constitution and that of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). It is a disrespect to article 1.6.1.2 of the GTTA constitution and all member association as well.
4. THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADERSHIP OF GTTA HAS NOT TAKEN ANNUAL
DUES OF ITS MEMBERSHIP SINCE 2019
There is a deliberate attempt by the chairman and the executives not to accept dues of members since 2019. We wish you could use your office to urge the leadership to do so, as attempt by some association members to pay dues was not accepted. Finally, we are by this petition, calling on your office to use its power and authority to impress upon the GTTA, the need to act in accordance with the constitution. We also propose the following.
i. A caretaker executive committee to be set up EXCLUDING all the elected members of the current executives. The current executives to provide handing over note on all aspect of implementation.
ii. A photo album with contact numbers of all the delegates to be made available 2 weeks before the elections.
iii. Elective Congress to elect new national officers should be held within 10 weeks from the date of this letter.
iv. Election guidelines should be available one month before election.
Thank you and counting on your support for the development of our game.
Yours faithfully,
…………………
Abraham Aidoo
(Central Regional Chairman& Spokesperson of the group)
0205165176
cc. Hon. Min. Youth & Sports
Board Chairman, NSA
Head of Tech. NSA
Dept. CEO NSA
Chairman, GTTA
All Exco Members, GTTA
All Regional Chairmen, GTTA
All Member Associations, GTTA
The Chairperson, ITTF
The Chairman, ATTF
The Chairman, WTTFL
