Samson Awiah elected Ghana Cricket Association President, pledges nationwide representation

Former national team all-rounder Samson Kwasi Awe Awiah has been elected President of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA), pledging to decentralise the sport and ensure nationwide representation in national team selection.

Awiah polled 11 votes out of 25 valid ballots cast at the elective congress held last Saturday at the Cantonments Police Station Mosque in Accra. Incumbent Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Asare garnered nine votes, while Prince Eugene King managed five.

In his victory speech, the new GCA boss emphasised regional associations as a priority, promising active involvement of cricketers at the grassroots level.

"The regional associations are one priority, making sure that we actively involve the cricketers each and every day, each and every week," Awiah stated. "We want the national team players to be chosen from all the regions, so that we have equal representation when it comes to representing the nation."

He added: "We know where we've been, and we cannot wait to get out of where we've been."

Samuel Nana Ekow Biney Asamoah secured the vice presidency with 17 votes, defeating incumbent Oscar Nii-Adza Provencal, who polled eight.

Devasia Shijo, Nihal Abbas Ali Safi and Vinod Punnackal were elected board members, while Angela Cassandra Allotey retained the treasurer's position with 21 votes against Dharmendra Thadani's four.

The congress was graced by a speech from Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Richard Akpokavie, read on his behalf by GOC General Secretary Mohammed Muniru Kassim. He urged the new board to prioritise "grassroots development, youth participation, good governance and the promotion of cricket at both national and international levels."

He also expressed appreciation to the outgoing board for its service and wished the new leadership "renewed energy, greater opportunities and remarkable achievements for Ghanaian cricket."