The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has affirmed that the elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), which led to the election of new executives and a board on March 17, 2025, followed due process.

Speaking at the Labadi Beach Hotel during the GRFU elective congress, which was supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mr Ampofo Ankrah stated that the presence of representatives from World Rugby, Rugby Africa, federation presidents, stakeholders, and the media was proof that proper procedures were followed.

He described the occasion as a significant moment for Ghana Rugby, marking a fresh start and an opportunity to rebuild trust in the sport’s administration.

The elective AGM followed a Special General Meeting (SGM) held on February 24, 2025, involving 18 active rugby clubs across seven regions. 

Eight executives, including the President, Vice President, Women’s Representative, Players’ Welfare Representative, and four board members, were elected unopposed.

Rafatu Inusah, President of the Northern Region Rugby Association, emerged as President of Ghana Rugby and will lead the federation for the next five years. 

Following the elections, the new board appointed additional officers, as mandated by the GRFU constitution, including a Treasurer, Judicial Officer, Tournament Commissioner, Director of Corporate and Sponsorship Affairs, and Director of Corporate Communications. 

Additionally, SaCut Amenga-Etego, an elected board member, was appointed as General Secretary, responsible for the day-to-day running of the GRFU and liaising with Rugby Africa, World Rugby, the NSA, and the Ghana Olympic Committee.

Addressing the new executives, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah urged them to put past disputes behind them and work towards taking Ghana Rugby to the global stage. 

He acknowledged that the road to this elective General Assembly had not been without challenges, noting that governance concerns had led to necessary interventions. 

He called on the newly elected board to ensure strong institutional leadership, avoid governance disputes that have plagued the sport in the past, and foster unity among stakeholders. 

He stressed that regardless of the election outcomes, all rugby clubs, players, coaches, referees, administrators, and fans must work together to strengthen Ghana Rugby.

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah also called on Rugby Africa to increase its support for Ghana Rugby by staging more competitions in the country, particularly at the newly built world-class rugby stadium at the University of Ghana. 

He highlighted Ghana’s successful hosting of the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens tournament, which was praised as one of the best competitions of the year, and assured Rugby Africa that Ghana remains open to hosting future international rugby events.

The NSA Director-General praised Herbert Mensah, former President of Ghana Rugby and current President of Rugby Africa, for his role in elevating Ghana Rugby onto the global stage. He noted that Mensah’s leadership and experience in sports administration would bring about lasting change, not only in Ghana but across the continent and beyond.

Ghana Rugby is a full member of both World Rugby and Rugby Africa, with a governance structure focused on youth development, women’s rugby, training and education, domestic competitions, and international performance. 

With a new leadership team in place, the focus now shifts to building a stronger and more competitive national rugby structure in line with international standards.