The Ghana Deaf Sports Federation (GDSF) successfully hosted its 2026 Open Forum bringing together a wide cross-section of the Deaf sports community at the GNAD Conference Centre in Accra.
The event saw strong attendance from member associations, current and former sports leaders, including past presidents of GNAD and the current GNAD Director. Passionate supporters of Deaf sports also joined the gathering. Representatives from various sporting disciplines, including Deaf Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Padel, Golf, and Rugby, were present to take part in the discussions.
The forum was designed to encourage open and constructive dialogue about the future of Deaf sports in Ghana. A key moment of the day was an address by GDSF President, Mr. Jonathan Michael Amuah. He provided a detailed orientation on the structure of the Deaflympics and the global Deaf sports movement. Mr. Amuah urged all member associations to strictly follow the constitutional procedures of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).
He called for stronger cooperation among all members and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the national federation.
A major part of the discussion focused on the current situation of the GDSF. Leaders openly acknowledged the challenges the federation faces, including the ongoing suspension by the ICSD. However, the forum’s message was one of unity and progress. Those present agreed that this moment should not be seen as a setback. Instead, it is an opportunity to RESET, REFORM, and REBUILD a stronger and more transparent federation.
To turn these goals into action, the forum agreed on several key points that will guide the GDSF’s work in the coming months. These action points include:
Re-investigating the ICSD suspension to fully understand the issues and work towards a resolution.
Reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the GDSF and GNAD to ensure it serves the best interests of all parties.
Strengthening institutional alignment to make sure all member associations work together under a shared vision and clear rules.
Establishing a committee to prepare for the next federation elections, scheduled for 2027.