Ghana’s U23 football team the Black Meteors is the hardest hit as the IOC suspended Ghana's national Olympic committee for government interference on Thursday.
Ghana's U23 who are the U20 World Champions are highly tipped to win the tournament in London but the suspension leaves their future in doubt.
That is because the qualification for the tournament is expected to start in the coming weeks as the squad is expected to start camping on Monday.
This leaves the country’s U23 and athletes in danger of missing the 2012 London Games.
The International Olympic Committee executive board made the decision after months of fruitless negotiations with Ghanaian officials, IOC President Jacques Rogge said.
The suspension means Ghana's Olympic committee will no longer receive IOC funding, its officials are banned from attending any Olympic events and Ghana's athletes are barred from competing in the Olympics.
Hardest hit by the IOC suspension could be Ghana's soccer team.
The under-20 team is the current world champion.
Ghana also reached the final of last year's African Cup of Nations and the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa.
The sanctions could be lifted before the London Games if Ghana complies with IOC regulations and assures the complete independence of the national body, which has been in turmoil since a disputed presidential election in 2009.
The IOC has complained in particular that government officials in Ghana are appointing the presidents of national sports federations.
Ghana's Olympic committee was formed in 1952 and recognized by the IOC the same year.
The country has won four Olympic medals — a silver in boxing in 1960, bronzes in boxing in 1964 and 1972 and a bronze in men's football in 1992.
Ghana sent about a dozen athletes to the 2008 Beijing Games.
Alpine skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong — nicknamed "The Snow Leopard" — qualified for last year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver, giving Ghana its biggest Olympic boost since 1992.
Ghana has also been in trouble with soccer's governing body. In December, FIFA gave the Ghana Football Association an ultimatum to end government interference in football matters or face pssible sanctions.
Ghana becomes the second national Olympic committee under IOC suspension.
Kuwait's national body was suspended early last year for political interference by the government.