Updated

Ghana's sports ministry says it is "relieved" by the reinstatement of its national Olympic committee by the IOC and will prepare to compete in the 2012 London Games.

Minister of Youth and Sports Clement Kofi Humado tells The Associated Press that Ghana is "certain" to take part in the Olympics after the passing of a new sports law, one of the prerequisites laid down by the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC suspended Ghana in January because of government interference in the national Olympic committee. The penalty was lifted Friday after a meeting of the IOC's executive board in Daegu, South Korea.

Humado says the ban impacted the international image of the west African country.