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WADA President holds productive meetings with stakeholders in Ethiopia and Ghana

ethiopa-meeting

As part of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) strategic priority to collaborate with and unite stakeholders, WADA President Witold Bańka spent last week in Africa to meet with key anti-doping stakeholders, partners and senior government officials from Ethiopia and Ghana, as well as representatives from the African Union.

Since the start of his presidency in 2020, Mr. Bańka has met with athletes, National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) and the Sport Movement, as well as numerous sports ministers and other Government representatives responsible for anti-doping. These meetings have included more than 70 Governments across all regions of the world.

WADA President, Witold Bańka, said: “I would like to thank the Government and sports representatives that gave so freely of their time and hospitality to meet with me during my visit to Ethiopia and Ghana last week. Sport is an integral part of life there and, indeed, throughout Africa and I am happy to have had the opportunity to go there in person to talk about and promote anti-doping. Clean sport is more than simply providing a level playing field for athletes at the elite level – it is about fostering a healthy lifestyle among the general public and offering positive role models for young people. In particular, I thank the African Union Chair and Commissioner for the leadership they are showing in the region and at WADA, as well as their commitment to ensuring member countries are engaged in the clean sport movement.

“It is vital that WADA’s leadership meets with sports ministers and other Government representatives from different regions of the world to hear their perspectives and discuss how to further strengthen the national and international legal frameworks. This allows us to collaborate more effectively with them in order to safeguard the integrity of the anti-doping systems in each country.

“Last week was the perfect opportunity for me to update the Governments and NADOs of Ethiopia and Ghana as well as some sports federations and the African Union on the work WADA is carrying out in Africa and globally, to listen to the particular challenges that are faced in the region and to once again pledge WADA’s support and practical assistance for the good of all athletes. It was particularly timely as there is less than a year until the 13th African Games is held in Ghana, which I am sure will be a great event.”

Some of the main topics discussed during the trip included:

  • WADA’s priorities, latest activities and current areas of development and innovation, such as athlete engagement and scientific research;
  • Anti-doping preparations for next year’s African Games, which will be held in Accra, Ghana;
  • WADA’s strategy to further enhance its funding model, including through the development of additional sources of funding;
  • Further active cooperation between Governments and other stakeholders in Africa to ensure that the anti-doping community is collaborating effectively and working together towards the same goal.

On Monday and Tuesday, the WADA delegation, which also included Director of WADA’s Africa Office, Rodney Swigelaar, and Director of the President’s Office, Rafal Piechota, was in Addis Ababa and met with:

  • H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
  • H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission;
  • H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development and a WADA Executive Committee member;
  • H.E. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs;
  • H.E. Kejel Merdas, Ethiopia’s Minister of Culture and Sport;
  • Hon. Amb. Mesfin Cherinet, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Sport Development Sector; and
  • Representatives of the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Organization, ETH-NADO.

The delegation then traveled on to the Ghanaian capital, Accra, for the remainder of the week, where they met with:

  • H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana;
  • Hon. Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports and member of WADA's Foundation Board;
  • Members of the local organizing committee for the 13th African Games;
  • Representatives of the Ghana Olympic Committee and the National Sports Authority;
  • Officials from various national sports federations; and
  • Board Members of the Ghana Anti-doping Committee.