OLYMPUS HAS RISEN

By: Dennis A. Ababio Jnr
A narrative foretold and only heard in our hearts
A bearer of most goodwill and something to lean on
A forward movement as of now requires a chain of balance in a persona
A balance of many virtues upheld by the Titans
In this day, one should only emerge to the fore with a refined history and the power which only emanates primarily from servitude and a long lasting one.
Marble chips and not so much noticeable characters have fell from the mountain; yet Olympus still stands. Olympus still shones forth hope on all that must hold the Olympiads.
We face forward, for Olympus has risen.

The subject of leadership cannot be ignored when we speak of the many things which come to play when Olympism is being discussed.
When we have deliberately committed ourselves to building a better world through sports, we should as well be committed to build a resolute leadership front that bears all that there is, to reveal the Olympic Terzetto; excellence, friendship and respect.

To a great degree, let me set the tone for this conversation. Here, we place Olympus in the spotlight and subject his candidature for scrunity and commendation. We will be limitless unless maybe we ran out of ink and may want to continue another day. We will do an imaginary surgery of revealing values and potential not so much told of, and a few highlights on history which we could have never imagined.
By far, we will cause many conversations within the parameters of the Ghana Olympic Committee to be rethought.
A divine crusade that identifies questions to supposed answers sitting on normalized averages. Treat them as rhetorics if they sound or appear unimaginable..

The Leadership The GOC Needs.

Sports is the only subject that sets apart the Ghana Olympic Committee from other well meaning independent organizations striving to build a better society.
As a matter of principle, it is imperative that, the leadership that will front an outfit like the Ghana Olympic Committee, in the coming years and even up to the next decade shouldn’t be a compromised one.

Well then, we can define the type of leadership needed in this space, with basic knowledge from olympism in Ghana, its history, and the story thus far. We are sure to pen down similar values even if we are all given a different sheet to do so in isolation.

The GOC in context, is one which has come very far but very little to show for. The many supposed achievements which we will biasly attempt to point out to, will only be a bunch of normalized averages.
Many are the woes, a lot are the shortcomings we can count. It’s quite acceptable to have these woes and shortcomings if we position ourselves as a nation to deal with them head on. The only subject, as already mentioned which cannot be ignored is the leadership of the outfit.

When these shortcomings and the rots that pulls the GOC back are being identified, we can hold our heads up high to set up a leadership front that has the tough skin, know-how and the experience to meet these set backs.

Everything rises and falls on leadership.
The candidature of Richard Akpokavie is a balanced one that has the grits to match the LOC through dark times and even at the edge of chaos.
The Leadership of the GOC as we may all agree has much to do with, but not limited to the following;

1. Top Notch Advocacy Skills
2. A cutting edge communication prowess
3. Servitude and Followership Hitherto
4. Conflict Resolution and Team Building
5. Relevant Networking Advantage with the GOC in context
6. In depth Understanding of Olympism and the self-experience in the athletes space
7. Corporate Leadership
8. Finnesse and Polish in leading a 21st Century Sports Brand

We can dare to add up to a 100 but the basic message is not to sweep under the carpet, personalities who have had maximum dominance over the aforementioned leadership themes.

The Richard Akpokavie Brand.

In the heading of advocacy, Richard Akpokavie has borne lots of fruits which cannot be contained in this article.
As lazy as i am and as boring as i may sound, just a few will be outlined and even with those, they are hopeful of showing the picture of Olympus as far as Selfless Advocacy is concerned.

Olympus, became the first ever Ghanaian to be appointed as an arbitrator on the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) in 2017, the governing body of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The purpose of ICAS is to facilitate the resolution of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation and to safeguard the independence of CAS and the rights of the parties. It is also responsible for the administration and financing of CAS.
Its headquarters are in Lausanne (Switzerland) and its courts are located in New York City, Sydney and Lausanne. Temporary courts are established in current Olympic host cities.

As a private legal practitioner and a sports oriented of a sort, this challenging height is a very fulfilling one that beats any debate of passion, effort and service. Being the first ever Ghanaian, he can be credited with some ‘weight of expertise’ in advocacy and more specifically in the sports industry.

When he became the president of the association whose national team was Ghana’s first team to qualify for a world cup, it had dawned on him to play out of borders to formulate policies and strategic decisions that will maintain hockey in its expected place and soar higher for a world wide recognition.

The Australian Sports Outreach Programme program which was launched in Ghana in 2011 was a calculated one to bring light to hockey by drawing most young ladies from different communities across the country to play hockey and prepare them to compete in future games such as the olympics, common wealth games, African games etc.
The program dubbed ‘Futures Hockey Program For Girls’ had Ghana as the only beneficiary in Africa; Not just by chance but by resounding advocacy skills of its leadership in numerous tete-a-tete discussions with the Australiam Government.

Being one which sparked a development index, the Richard Akpokavie leadership went on to lobby for the Tap West African Project to be initiated in Ghana. The aim of this project was a full fledged 5- year capacity building of Technical Officials, Team Officials and the Women’s National Team.
Within this period, the aim of increasing the number of Technical Officials and Coaches at various levels were met. Most Senior High Schools and to a large extent GES benefitted immensely.
The aim of raising the Women National Team to either compete in the Common Wealth Games or the Olympic games was met.
It was through this exercise that the National Hockey Ladies Team were able to qualify for the Common Wealth games and maintained an enviable spot in the FIH rankings.
It takes advocacy to be strategic and to leverage on solidarity.

Olympus’ many years of being a private legal practitioner cannot have his communication skills rubbed off him ; especially when he has become a fine and enviable one over the years.
His servitude and followership cannot be questioned. His rising to the front of the GOC has been a long time coming. A competent fellow who has served as the General Secretary of the Ghana Olympic Committee for at least 10 years under different leaderships. His tough skin is engulfed with tolerance and energy to only cause a rising effect in any space he finds himself, even at the edge of chaos.

Being an arbitrator on the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) sets the fact right with Conflict Resolution abilities.
Having served on numerous committees from local to International Federations fills his diary with many to reach out to, in the name of networking and solidarity for the betterment of the GOC.

Richard Akpokavie is an accomplished Hockey personality and a household name for excellence in sports in Ghana. His make up as far back has been linked to heroes whom he has sat and learnt at their. feet. Sam Portuphy and K. N Owusu (Former GOC President) are iconic figures in his nurturing from the 70’s.

He is one of the very few sports men in Africa who have experienced every level in sportsmanship and Administration.

He begun as a novice in Achimota School and competed in the then prestigious National Sports Festival.
He rose through thick and thin to be one of the youngest to be called to the National team at age 16.
A blur fact has it that, he skipped an exam and a class to compete in the first ever Junior World Cup for Ghana in 1979.
He captained the junior team for the Junior Africa Championship in 1981 and had a promotion to the senior side at tender age of 16 in 1979.
He has been a secretary of the Greater Accra Hockey Association, an Umpirer, a Technical Official, coached some teams a couple times, became a Technical Director in several high profile tournaments across the globe, A Vice President
of the Ghana Hockey Association and subsequently the President.
He has served on various committees at all levels of Field Hockey.
He is currently the Development Officer and Chairman of Africa Hockey Federation Officials Committee and Member of the Officials Commitee of the International Hockey Federation.
He was once the chairman of the Board of Directors of NDK Financial Services and a legal advisor to many other corporate institutions.

Having a desire to want to lead people and the actual ability to do so are not mutually exclusive. One type is leadership by force (I guess you are my boss now so I will follow), the other is leadership by choice (You are a person I want to follow). Most leaders succeed to those roles because they are able to do it one of two primary ways: 1) playing “the game” (ego) or, 2) growing a strong following of people who want you to lead them (ethos). The ones that stay long term usually do because they have a strong servant leadership mindset. But, we all know the narcissists also gain a following.

The thought of the dualism of leadership and followership is an ideal one. The problem is leadership is not a role to be given or taken away. While leadership positions within an organization can be given, true leadership is a construct, which is not positionally endowed. A true leader can lead up or down the chain of command. An ethical leader will recognize those putting personal advancement or agenda before that of the group, and will lead the group in an ethical direction.

Leadership truly is a privilege and responsibility. We must, however, recognize leadership as the construct that understands that there will be narcissistic leaders within groups whether those positions are granted or not.
A construct that is not positionally endowed but driven by purpose and long mindedness in a solution oriented space.

A thin line drawn between two mindsets of leadership is always at play: ‘I have the responsibility to’ vs ‘i have the privilege of’. Though an unpopular opinion, pray the latter narrative is rethought, lest society will continue to march gorgeously sideways with its head down as well.

Richard Akpokavie presents himself for the Presidency of the Ghana Olympic Committee; having served as General Secretary for many years under different leaderships.
The style of leadership whose time is due is one which has seen it all and has many to show for.
Let’s rise above a system of normalized averages, a compromised system which draws the GOC nowhere near excellence, friendship and respect.

Richard Akpokavie is Number 1 on the Ballot.
Give Olympus a firm handshake, Give Olympus the Nod; Olympus Has Risen!