TOWARDS GTF ELECTION, THE ODDS AND THE PERSONALITIES

As we count down the days towards October 19th 2019 when the Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) will be going to the polls to elect a President, Vice President and seven board members, details of those who have filed nominations are out. A record number of 20 people have filed for the position of board member with the usual two aspirants for the President and Vice President. 

This portal has looked closely at the background of the candidates and spoken to some very seasoned stakeholders of the game as to who are likely to make the next administration of GTF. Below is what we got and we will not be surprised if it becomes the voice of the delegates after the election.

PRESIDENT: ISAAC ABOAGYE DUAH

If there is any man to be entrusted with the future of Ghana Tennis at least for the next four years, Isaac Aboagye Duah will be the name mentioned. Known by as Abe, he has an unquestionable reputation for transparency, accountability and integrity, Abe has shepherded the renaissance of Ghana Tennis to the point where Ghana can now see itself taking on its former pride of place among the comity of nations.

He served as Vice President of GTF from 2015 to 2017 when he took over as President, Abe is also currently an elected Board Member of Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) where he doubles as the Chairman of Events and Program subcommittee of GOC.

His administration can boast of a Doubles Gold Medal at the 2015 All African games. Under his able leadership Ghana has moved from the Davis Cup Africa Zone 4 to Africa Zone 3 in 2019. He re-established Ghana at the ITF Annual General Meeting in 2018 and 2019 after ten years of absence, provided unrestricted access to the establishment and the operations of five tennis foundations. He has seen to the successful organization of level 1 and 2 ITF coaching courses and level 1 ITF officiating course and established the junior tennis team as the West African power house.

With the recent reforms at the International Tennis Federation, Ghana Tennis can count on the good working relationship he has forged with the ITF President and ITF Board members as well as with the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) to take Ghana Tennis to the next level.

VICE PRESIDENT:  KWAME DJANGBA

Having distinguished himself as a board member for the past four years, many stakeholders of tennis asserts that it is time for Kwame Djangba to take on higher responsibilities to man the affairs of the federation as far as developmental tennis is concern.

The retired public servant with forty years of experience as a statistician has been the brain behind the GTF that caught the attention of international officials in Lisbon, Portugal during the 2019 Annual General Meeting.

A skilful player in his own rights and a member of the prestigious Koforidua Sports Club where he serves as the Vice Chairman and in charge of finance and administration.

He is a team player, a unifier and there is no doubt that he will dwarf his opponent after the election.

WHO ARE THOSE LIKELY TO MAKE THE NEW GTF BOARD

The constitution of the Ghana Tennis Federation provides for the election of 7 board members with the room to co-opt others with special expertise. Below are the profiles of 9 candidates eyeing a seat on the board and are likely to make the new board, we have taken the time to find more about them and now submit their profile to the pleasure of the delegates, it is our expectation that this piece will aid the delegates in making their choice come election day 19th October 2019. 

EMMANUEL ADU-SARKODIE

Little may be known about him in public life with respect to his affiliation to tennis, but the famous Sarkodie of tennis is a social player of great reputation and well respected in the tennis circles, he has in the quiet been supporting players and the federation for many years with recent crucial support to the Davis Cup team that took Ghana from Africa Zone 4 to Africa Zone 3.

As the Group Chief Executive of CDH Financial Holdings Limited, Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodie is a household name in the business industry who has demonstrated significance business excellence leading to the growth of the Ghanaian economy and has won many awards to that effect.

There is no shyness in saying that the coming on board of the business guru will open many and influential doors and opportunities to the Ghana Tennis Federation that will help to propel the developmental agenda of tennis in the country.

PETER ANNAN

The legend Peter Annan is a household name in Ghana tennis and has won great reputation in Germany where a tennis court is named after him due to his contribution to the cultural ties between him and the Germans towards the development of tennis.

As a board member, his working knowledge of the Ghana Tennis Federation cuts across different administration which affords him deep knowledge and experience to help the federation navigate crossroads.

Thanks to Peter Annan, the Accra Senior Open has been a major feature on the Ghanaian tennis calendar for the past 10 years, giving young and promising players the opportunity to put their skills to test and to develop culminating in some players featuring for the national team at different levels. Such an experience pair of hands certainly needs to be maintained on the board to ensure that the institutional memory of the Federation is not lost but passed on to the next generation with great care, training and mentoring.

JESSE JOHN ATO DES BORDES

The much respected Chairman of the Kaneshie Tennis Club, Jesse John Ato Des Bordes, is undeniably a man to be on the next board of GTF. Coming from an IT background, he is the CEO of the following companies; Intercom Data Network, Microbit Systems Limited, Globodime Interactive Solutions and the Executive Director of the Weston Group.

Haven been actively involved in tennis for the past decade. He is currently the Chairman of the prominent Kaneshie Tennis Club. He is expected to come on the board of the Federation to transform its operations in terms of information technology by helping build a robust website, database system and a formidable social media presence.

MICHAEL AKPABLA

The over 23 years’ worth of experience as a building contractor, Michael Akpabla has caught the eyes of many stakeholders of the game as the man who can spearhead the infrastructure and facilities department of the federation, working to use modern financing strategies to the advantage of the Federation in building new tennis centers around the country and to renovate and maintain existing ones.

As a past executive member of the Accra Lawn Tennis Club, he is expected to come on the GTF board with enormous experience in the business of tennis leadership especially in the area of sponsorship for tennis development.

SAMPSON SAYIBU

The number 1 star of the AMTEC and Tamale Tennis club has been in the game for over 20 years and has seen the game evolved in different ways and has under studied different GTF administration and wishes to now come on board fully to contribute his quota to the development of the game.

He has over ten years’ experience in middle to senior management roles with background in Logistics and supply chain management. Served as the Regional Supply Chain Manager for 3 Northern Regions from 2009-2011 for the US franchise, Amway Inc. Consulted for Danish and Dutch Government on waste management from 2011-2017 and currently the Head of supply chain for IWAD Ghana Ltd since 2017.

He looks forward to bringing on board a new blend of leadership mix from the northern part of Ghana to help change the narrative on tennis development in Ghana towards other regions outside the capital, specific emphasis on youth development towards building a backlog of players for the national team Nationwide.

HENRY BONI-QUARSHIE

Boni is credited to have secured full sponsorship for Marshal Akorli and Emmanuel Plange to the University Of Cape Coast and Skills upgrade program in Serbia respectively. He has initiated a fund rasing platform to sponsor needy ball boys through education, welfare and their professional career. He he has been tipped as a catalyst to bring innovation to the game.

He has served in the position of Secretary of the Kaneshie Tennis Club from 2004 to date and a member of the Ghana Lawn Tennis Club and Police Depot Tennis Club. He holds other enviable positions such as member of the GTF Constitution Review Committee, GTF Sponsorship Committee and a member of the upcoming Aboatyre Open Committee.

The Business Development Consultant and General Manager of Matlyn Security Systems is a high consideration to the board of GTF and he is expected to bring to the game reforms that can transform the game to impact the lives of many.

DORCAS SOWAH

In an era where the International Tennis Federation has placed so much emphasis on the representation of women at the highest decision level of national associations and regional and international level of the game, Sowah will be a great pick to represent the voices of females on the board. With over 20 years work experience in administration, the past executive member of the Accra Lawn Tennis Club is expected to bring the spark into the administrative work and process of the Federation at all levels.

She is a solid tennis player who has been playing active tennis for the past 15 years and runs the Girls Tennis Development and Sponsorship Program. Analysts say she will be a force behind the implementation of new reforms in the next administration should she be given the choice.

ISMAILA NII LANTE LAMPTEY

Baboo as he is affectionately known in the game, Ismaila Nii Lante Lamptey is the C.E.O of Baboo Sports and Baboo Sports Academy, the official Representative of Babolat in Ghana and other West Africa Countries. The professional accountant with 15 years of working experience is coming on board with rich experience in Accounting and Finance to help the board in areas of budgeting, accounting, transparency and accountability to lift the image of the association to enhance progress in our developmental agenda.

Baboo has been an active player for the last 7 years, a member of the TOR Tennis Club and Tema Tennis Club both in Tema. Baboo holds the enviable position of the Captain of the TOR Tennis Club .

Baboo is a household name in Ghana at the back of being the main sponsor of the National Tennis Ranking Tournament for the past four years, sponsoring the Junior National Team with tennis balls, strings and other tennis accessories, established a junior tennis academy in Tema and organizing an annual tennis tournament for both professional and social players for the past seven years.

CEDRIC DZELU

Last but not the least is Cedric Dzelu, at 32 he has successfully calved an image for himself that is admired and respected by both his peers and many stakeholders of the game. He is currently a World YMCA Youth Ambassador and have served the YMCA in countries such as the USA, Japan, Thailand, Phillipines, Senegal, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, The Gambia and Ghana.

Cedric also serves in a volunteer role as the Executive Director of Hope Performance Tennis Inc. a not for profit that leverages on tennis as a tool for development to empower the next generation. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Development Finance from the University of Ghana and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

As a global youth leader, the millennial comes to the board with vast experience in advocacy, communication, proposal writing, programs and project implementation. If delegates give him a chance, it will be the very first time a young person will be represented on the board and it is no doubt that he will be a solid voice for all the players and young people both home and abroad.  

CONCLUSION

Our editorial team is closely following the election as well as all related development, though we do not claim the prowess of a Jewish prophet, we have no doubt that many of the names mention here will win the heart of the delegates and we look forward to bringing you reports when the election is over, for the meantime we wish all of them victory. Love all.