Dodoo, a distinguished sociologist and chairman of the Ghana Athletics Associiation (GAA), was elected unopposed to replace Benson Tongo Baba, who had held the post for 12 years.

But election was overshadowed when Baba claimed that there had been interference from some “external forces" which contravened the ideals of the Olympic Charter and the constitution of the GOC.

He alleged that Ghana's ruling National Democratic Congress party had orchestrated a campaign to replace him.

Baba claimed that the Government had sacked a number of heads of national sports federations and repalced them with their own candidates to ensure the election of Dodoo.

He is now threatening to report the affair to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claiming that the GOC could be banned if there is found to have been Government interference in the election.

Baba said: "The GOC shall never associate itself with any activity that contravenes the Olympic Charter.

"I will report to my superiors and the necessary action will be taken.

"It is my prerogative to come out and defend the IOC and the Olympic Charter as best as my conscience says."

Dodoo competed in four Olympics between 1984 and 1996 with his best performance coming in Seoul in 1988 when he finished 17th.

He has also represented Ghana in a number of other sports, including basketball, cricket, handball, hockey and volleyball.

Dodoo is currently a professor at Pennsylvania  State University in the United States and at the University of Ghana in Accra.

After his election, Dodoo promised to provide a transparent, responsible and fair leadership to all stakeholders.

A number of other new appointments were also made, including Deborah Cubagee moving up from second vice-president to to first vice-president.

Ken Dzirasah, the newly appointed head of the Ghana Handball Association, and Nestory Galley, chairman of the Ghana Badminton Association, were voted second and third vice-presidents.

Nii Quaye-Kumah, general secretary of the Ghana Hockey Association and the Africa Hockey Federation, added to his list of roles as he was elected as the new general secretary of the GOC.

Ghana, who made their Olympic debut at Helsinki in 1952, have only ever won four Olympic medals, a silver and three bronze, the last of which came at Barcelona in 1992 when they finished third in the football.