ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) board member and Ghana Rugby President Rafatu Inusah has been appointed Chef de Mission (CDM) for Team Ghana at the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta and Gozo.
The Games are scheduled to take place from October 29 to November 4, 2027, bringing together young athletes from across the Commonwealth for an international multi-sport competition.
Inusah’s appointment places her at the centre of Ghana’s preparations for the eighth edition of the Games, where she will be responsible for helping coordinate the country’s delegation of athletes, officials and other stakeholders.
The Games are expected to feature about 1,200 athletes aged between 14 and 18 from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories.
For many of the young competitors, the event represents an important step in their sporting development, providing international exposure and experience in a multi-sport environment before they progress to senior-level competition.
Inusah has emerged as a prominent figure in Ghanaian sports administration, particularly through her work in rugby, grassroots development and athlete support.
She is the first woman to serve as president of the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), and has also held the position of Secretary General of the Ghana Triathlon Federation.
She currently serves on the GOC Games and Technical Committee and the GOC Women’s Commission, where she contributes to efforts aimed at strengthening support systems for national athletes and advancing gender equity in sports.
Inusah is also an active member of the Women’s Advisory Committee of Rugby Africa.
ICECP opportunity in the United States
Her appointment as Team Ghana’s Chef de Mission comes alongside another international opportunity.
Inusah has been selected by the GOC to participate in the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) in the United States.
The programme, organised by the University of Delaware in collaboration with Olympic Solidarity and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), brings together sports professionals from different countries for advanced training in coaching, athlete development and sports administration.
Her participation is expected to give her exposure to international approaches to coaching, athlete development and sports management, while also providing an opportunity to build professional relationships with sports administrators and coaches from around the world.
The combination of the two assignments gives Inusah both a national leadership responsibility and an international professional development opportunity as she continues her work within Ghana’s sporting and Olympic structures.
As Chef de Mission, she will work with athletes, officials and other stakeholders in the build-up to the Commonwealth Youth Games, helping to coordinate Team Ghana’s participation in Malta and Gozo.
GOC President Richard Akpokavie said Inusah’s appointment was part of the committee’s broader focus on increasing the participation of women in sports leadership.
“The choice of Rafatu Inusah is strategic for the GOC as it deliberately focuses on women empowerment, actively placing capable female leaders at the highest echelons of national sports governance to drive lasting transformation,” Akpokavie said.
The appointment comes as Ghana continues to strengthen pathways for young athletes and expand the role of women in sports administration and leadership.