Embattled ANOCA boss fights back, says he’s innocent

Embattled president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa,(ANOCA),Mustapha Berraf, has denied catalog of corruption allegations recently leveled against his administration, saying he is innocent of them all.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the ANOCA headquarters in Abuja by the visiting IOC President,Thomas Bash, the Algerian official claimed the accusations against him were “completely false.”

Berraf is also embroiled in scandal in his role as President of the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) after the country’s Sports Minister accused him of corruption and financial mismanagement.

The 65-year-old disputes the accusations and alleges his detractors are guilty of “misleading
and defamatory maneuvers” to “undermine his image and that of the COA”.

A letter sent from an anonymous address demanded Berraf, ANOCA secretary general Ahmed Abou
Elgasim Hashim and Gumel stand down from their positions following allegations of
mismanagement, a lack of financial transparency and of betraying the trust of National Olympic
Committees.

Berraf would lose his IOC membership if he is ousted as COA President, as he was elected to
the body as an NOC representative.

IOC chief ethics and compliance officer Pâquerette Girard Zappelli is aware of the
allegations against Berraf.

Meanwhile,the IOC president called Nigeria the Olympic capital of the continent as he joined the country’s Sports Minister Sunday Dare and under-fire ANOCA President at the event.

The IOC President was flanked by Dare and Nigerian Olympic Committee President Habu Gumel
at the ceremony, part of his tour of Africa this week.

“The commitment of Nigeria to the completion of this edifice has been unwavering,” said Bach.

“It is for this reason that the Federal Government ensured the continued funding of the
project from inception to completion.

“It is my sincere hope that the vision for which the project was executed would be achieved for
the benefit of all stakeholders.”

The opening of the new headquarters comes amid a difficult time for ANOCA as the umbrella body remains in crisis.

Read Also:ANOCA passes vote of no confidence against Gumel,others

Berraf, who became a member of the IOC this year, is facing calls to resign as the head of
the continental organisation after a vote of no confidence was anonymously circulated last
month.