Ghana’s Christiana Naa Merley Ashley has been elected Vice President for Region A of the African Chess Confederation (ACC), securing a key leadership position in the continental governing body for chess.
Ashley was elected during the 10th ACC Electoral General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where delegates from across Africa voted to elect a new Executive Board to steer the affairs of the confederation.
Her election is seen as a major boost for Ghana Chess and underscores the country’s growing influence in the administration and development of the sport on the continent.
As Vice President for Region A, Ashley will support efforts to promote chess development, strengthen collaboration among member associations within the region and champion initiatives aimed at increasing participation and raising playing standards.
The presidential election saw Kenya’s Benard Wanjala emerge victorious after polling 25 votes to narrowly defeat Botswana’s Tshepiso Lopang, who secured 24 votes.
The newly elected Executive Board will oversee the affairs of the African Chess Confederation during the next term, with a focus on strengthening governance, expanding grassroots development and promoting competitive chess across Africa.
The new Executive Board comprises Benard Wanjala (Kenya) as President, Mohamed Abdulla Mohamed (Somalia) as Deputy President, Barthelemy Bongo Akanga Ndjila (Gabon) as Vice President for Administration, Andre Lewaks (South Africa) as Vice President for Technical, Christiana Naa Merley Ashley (Ghana) as Vice President for Region A, Chouari Wajdi (Tunisia) as Vice President for Region B, Mario Lourenço (Angola) as Vice President for Region C, Otto Nakapunda (Namibia) as Secretary General, and Kouassi Nguessan Justin Brou (Côte d’Ivoire) as Treasurer.
Ashley’s election is expected to strengthen Ghana’s voice in continental chess administration while creating new opportunities for the growth and development of the game in the country. It also reflects the confidence African chess stakeholders have placed in Ghanaian leadership as the sport continues to expand across the continent.
