The President of the Handball Association of Ghana (HAG), Edward Patrick Nii Lante Bannerman, has been elected as the Deputy Treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) for the next four years. The election was held on Saturday, April 26th, at the Accra International Conference Center.
Nii Lante secured a decisive victory by polling 44 out of the 63 valid votes cast, defeating his opponents Bernard Quartey, who garnered 10 votes, and Aurora Commodore-Tappar, who received 9 votes.
Following his election, Nii Lante expressed his gratitude to the delegates and stakeholders for their trust and support. “I am elated by the win, and I thank all the delegates and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in me. I promise to bring my experience over the years to bear on the GOC,” he told the media.
Known for his advocacy for least financed sports (LFS), Nii Lante emphasized his commitment to championing the cause of underfunded disciplines such as handball, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and judo.
“With a little push, these sports can elevate Ghana’s status on the international sporting ladder,” he said.
He further pledged to push for annual funding, however small, to help address some of the financial challenges faced by LFS. “My priority would be to advocate for some annual funding, however small, for the LFS to help assuage some of their financial concerns.”
Nii Lante also stressed the importance of integrity and transparency, promising to work closely with fellow Executive Committee members to keep stakeholders well-informed. “As an individual, my integrity precedes me, so I will liaise with my other Exco members to carry the various stakeholders along by providing timely and valuable information as and when the need arises,” he assured.
Under his leadership as HAG President, Ghana has hosted two International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy tournaments for Zone III, with notable achievements such as the U-20 men’s team winning the 2024 championship and the U-19 team securing bronze in the 2023 edition.
By; Nana Adwoa Kwofie
