Ghana banned from London 2012

The IOC has made the bold decision to ban Ghana from competing in the London olympics after the Ghana Olympic Commitee was unable to resolve political disputes.

Francis Dodoo (a former triple-jumper) was elected as the GOC's new President, a result disputed by Benson Tongo Baba, who had held the post for 12 years.

Ghana has won four Olympic medals in the past- a silver in boxing in 1960, bronze in boxing in 1964 and 1972 and a bronze in men's football in 1992. Ghana sent nine competitors to the 2008 Beijing Games, competing in athletics and boxing.

In 2010 Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, aka The Snow Leopard (pictured) became Ghana's first entry to the winter olympics, competing in the slalom. He had learned to ski at the indoor slope in Milton Keynes, UK. He finished 53rd out of 102 participants of whom 54 finished.

 Ghana becomes the second nation supended from the games after Kuwait's national body was suspended early last year for political interference by the Government.

The IOC has also ruled to no longer recognise the Netherlands Antilles but to include the islands under the Netherlands national team.

None of these countries were likely to be major medal winners but it is always sad to see athletes banned from competing for non-sporting reasons.

India, meanwhile, are also in danger of being banned from London following its failure to adopt proposals agreed following a meeting with the IOC here last June, including the Government respecting the autonomy of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

(Inside the Games)