The Ghana Swimming Association (GSA) has formally demanded the immediate withdrawal of a letter issued by the National Sports Authority (NSA) seeking to withdraw its recognition, describing the move as unlawful, procedurally flawed and a threat to the future of aquatics in Ghana.
In a strongly-worded response addressed to the Director General of the NSA, the GSA rejected the Authority’s January 7 notice titled “Notice of Withdrawal of Recognition of the Ghana Swimming Association”, stating that it was received with “utter shock and dismay”.
According to the GSA, the purported withdrawal of recognition is “fundamentally flawed both in procedure and substance” and represents a serious departure from the statutory framework governing sports administration in Ghana.
The Association argues that the NSA failed to comply with mandatory procedures outlined in the Sports Regulations 2023 (L.I. 2477), particularly Regulations 9 and 18, which require prior notice and an opportunity for the affected body to be heard before any cancellation of registration or revocation of licence.
GSA maintains that it was never served the required fourteen-day notice of intention to cancel its registration, nor granted the twenty-one-day period to respond to any allegations, rendering the decision procedurally invalid and unenforceable.
Beyond the alleged procedural lapses, the GSA also challenged the substance of the NSA’s claims, noting that the letter vaguely referenced “irregularities” and an “unsatisfactory response” without identifying any specific breaches of the law.
“The NSA conspicuously fails to indicate which provisions of L.I. 2477 the GSA has contravened,” the Association stated, insisting that none of the statutory grounds for cancellation or revocation have been met.
The Association further warned that the decision undermines investments made into swimming by government and other stakeholders and threatens the development of aquatics in the country.
The GSA has consequently demanded the immediate withdrawal of the derecognition notice and a restoration of due process, stressing its readiness to engage the Authority through lawful and transparent means.
As of now, the National Sports Authority is yet to publicly respond to the GSA’s demands.
