On March 18, 2023 (exactly 2 years ago), Ghana’s Herbert Mensah was elected as President of Rugby Africa, the governing body of rugby in Africa.
Mensah won the election by a landslide, polling 30 of the 32 available votes at the election in Cape Town, South Africa. His only rival, Uganda’s Andrew Owuo, garnered only one vote, with one ballot paper spoiled.
Mensah succeeded Tunisia’s Khaled Babbou, who stepped down after serving only one term. Notably, Mensah is the first Anglophone president of Rugby Africa since its inception.
A renowned entrepreneur and sports administrator, Mensah has made significant contributions to the development of rugby in Africa. Prior to his election as Rugby Africa president, he served as the president of the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), leading the union to attain its World Rugby status.
Mensah’s business acumen and leadership skills have been evident in his various ventures. An economist by training, he honed his entrepreneurial skills while studying in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. He went on to become a successful businessman, distributing mobile handsets and establishing a level-3 Motorola and Nokia-certified mobile phone and repair center in Accra.
In addition to his business pursuits, Mensah has been passionate about sports development. He served as the board chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko SC, a prominent Ghanaian football club, from 1999 to 2003. During his tenure, he implemented a five-year plan to restore the club’s former glory, securing sponsorships, introducing professional training facilities, and ensuring transparent financial management.
Mensah is also committed to philanthropy, particularly through the May 9th Foundation, which he founded to support families affected by the May 9, 2001, stadium disaster in Ghana.
Throughout his career, Mensah has demonstrated his dedication to sports development, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. His election as Rugby Africa president marked a significant milestone in his journey, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence the development of rugby in Africa.
Ghsportsnews (ghsportsnews.com) is a prominent digital sports news platform based in Accra, Ghana, that has been in operation since 2020