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Ghana sports - rising beyond the
pitches, tracks and fields
A GNA feature by Richard Avornyotse
Accra, June 13, GNA The performance of the Black Stars in
Germany at the World Cup in 2006 brought a new wave of
recognition and appreciation to Ghana sports.
It was a beautiful reminder to the people of the world who
had forgotten that way back in the sixties, little Ghana had
won Olympic medals and had made a great impact in the
Commonwealth and on the continent of Africa in sports.
The Kwame Nkrumah era, which had astute administrator, Ohene
Djan in the saddle, produced the right condition for
Ghanaian athletes to develop and win laurels for the country
and made Ghana a powerhouse of African Sports.
No wonder Ghana won the first African Cup of Nations trophy
for keeps in 1978 and annexed her fourth African title as
far back as 1980, when no other country on the continent had
won a third title.
The Ignatius Gaisahs, the Majetie Fetries, the Vida Anims
and the Margaret Simpsons of the current generation are
indeed blazing the trail of their forerunners, who had
inscribed the name of Ghana in glittering precious metals on
the world sporting map.
The Mike Aheys, the Stan Allotteys, the Alice Anums, the
Rose Harts and other track and field greats as well as a
pool of distinguished boxers who had drawn global attention
to Ghana through sports deserve to be saluted.
The Azumah Nelsons, the Nana Yaw Konadus, the Alfred Koteys,
and the Ike Quarteys had all done their part to push Ghana
sports upwards.
Beyond the dossier of achievement of Ghanaians in sports
came another landmark feat for Ghana last week when Mr. Osei
Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and
Sports was elected chairman of the Bureau of African Sports
Ministers under an African Union dispensation.
The young Ghanaian minister now heads a five member Bureau
of Ministers charged with crafting a roadmap for the
realisation of Africa’s sporting dreams.
At the same forum, Ghana won another feather in her cap when
Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah was elected chairman of the
Committee of Experts.
Thus in the annals of the African Union, Ghana has assumed
pole position in ensuring that the continent’s dreams in
relation to sports are realised.
While we salute the duo for their elevation and congratulate
them on bringing honour to Mother Ghana, it is our hope that
they will distinguish themselves and justify the confidence
reposed in the Ghanaian by our brothers and sisters on the
continent.
Minister O.B. Amoah must be remembered as the Ghanaian under
whose chairmanship African sports structures, policies and
programmes were harmonised.
The Ghanaian chairman must lead the way to ensure that the
aspirations of African leaders to use sports as a vehicle
for the promotion of integration, solidarity, peace and
healthy lifestyles are attainable with alacrity.
It is a very daunting task but not beyond the capability of
Mr Amoah, who has demonstrated a great zeal to succeed since
becoming a minister over two year ago.
Mr Amoah’s primary objective will be to captain the ship
successfully through turbulence and other hazardous spectres
that might surface either through wilful manoeuvres of
saboteurs or dint of natural circumstances.
He will have to deal with people with divergent views and
attitudes and be at his persuasive best to carry majority of
the ministers and their cohorts along.
The chairman will have to spearhead agenda to infuse private
sector participation into the development of sports on the
continent, while fostering the bond of togetherness among
members to harness fully, the great potential of African
talent to challenge for leadership in the world of sports.
The appointments of Mr Amoah and Dr Owusu Ansah to lead
Africa in redefining its sports structures and other
parameters are pluses for Ghana sports and it will be
prudent on the part of everybody to support them and ensure
they succeed.
The appointments are a testimony of the confidence our
brothers and sister have in our abilities. We won laurels on
the pitches, and in the tracks and fields. We won glory in
the rings and we must celebrate the recognition that Ghana
has chalked among the Council of Ministers of Sports in
Africa.
Ghana sports are on the ascendancy once more, albeit in the
boardroom of the African Union. Our national sports
credentials are rising higher, rising beyond the pitches,
tracks and fields.
We must have cause to celebrate and commemorate, while we
put our hands to the wheel to push the Chairman of the
Bureau of African Sports Ministers to success.
GNA
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