This article was first published in Feb 2025
By Ken Bediako
This is to welcome hard working sports journalist Yaw Ampofo Ankrah to the slippery seat of National Sports Authority Director. That seat has seen far too many quick changes in the last four years and it is hoped Yaw will be given enough room to make his presence felt. Yaw’s infectious enthusiasm for his work as a sports journalist, notably on Radio and Television, is commendable. Even though his new role would be mainly administrative, the amazing skills he has displayed in the promotion of Beach Soccer in the country, should be enough testimony the young man could be trusted with a bigger assignment in the field of sports development.
If my memory serves me right this is only the second time in recent history a full time sports journalist is being given such a pivotal role in our sports development. In 2000 the Kufuor administration appointed Graphic Sports Editor Joe Aggrey Deputy Minister for Sports. Curiously, by some twist of fate my boyhood friend Joe Aggrey, within four years, had to work under four different ministers obviously with different work ethics. First was the flippant Mallam Issah who was sacked for some alleged foreign exchange deals. Then followed Honourables Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Osei Kwaku and Baah Wiredu. It was during the Baah Wiredu era that Joe Aggrey was given a major assignment to be in charge of a committee set up by Government to recognise outstanding sports personalities in Ghana. The Kufuor government realised that over the decades, sports has undoubtedly projected the good name of Ghana at the international community. Incidentally, Ghana owes its popularity and fame through sports to a handful of men and women who painstakingly devoted their time, money and energy sometimes at the peril of their lives.
The Committee was headed by the renowned sports administrator Dr. K. Owusu Ansah (now deceased). Their work was to identify sports facilities, localities and structures that can be named after distinguished personalities in sports eg gates, lanes, inner and outer parts of fence walls and other appointments at Stadia especially the Accra and Kumasi Stadia, and to propose the establishment of a sports museum and Hall of Fame.
The committee’s report after 10 months work, was accepted and a grand inauguration by Sports Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu was held at the plush Alisa Hotel in Accra on November 26 2004. He said “we have assembled here tonight in this enchanting environment to share a common meal in the company of our sports celebrities and to drink in toast in their honour and well being. Our pleasure, our joy and our focus however must not be said to lie in the meal or in the toast, it lies indeed in the acknowledgement that is now being expressed in token of rewards and in citation edged in gold which a grateful nation publicly exhibit and professes in adulation of its heroes as part of a national agenda.
A cliche that is unavoidable here is that a Nation is not worth dying for if it does not honour its heroes. For Akans it is “Onipa ye ade a ose ayeyi” meaning an achiever is worth an appreciation. Certainly so with this Government for we are all aware of the track record of our President His Excellency Mr. J A. Kufuor in the area of sports administration and more especially.in football. His concern since assuming office has been the institutionalisation of an awards scheme for our heroes. The Ministry of Education and Sports was therefore tasked to fashion out such a scheme. What is taking
place tonight therefore is the first of an annual sports awards scheme which should come happily to complement meaningfully the ongoing SWAG Awards programme which for close to 30 years has been the lifeline support to lift the spirits of our outstanding sports personalities. To SWAG the nation says bravo”.
The committee did good research and identified both outstanding old performers and administrators to be in the Hall of Fame. For some inexplicable reasons, apart from the Baba Yara Stadium, Azumah Nelson Sports Complex and Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium, the report has vanished into thin air. As an active member of the Committee I am obviously interested in getting this Hall of Fame project back to life. This is my plea to the new NSA boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah. For the record here you are with the full list of Sports facilities and events proposed by the Committee and accepted by the government
1.Accra Stadium-Ohene Djan
2.Kumasi Sports Stadi um-Baba Yara
3.Library Accra Sports Stadium-H.P.Nyemitei
4.Accra Sports Hall-D G Hathiramani
5.Sports Hall (South Stand)- Ethel Jacks
6.Sports Hall( North Stand Ike Quartey(Olympian)
7.Press Centre Kofi Badu
8.Stadium Clinic-Dr Yaw Nkansa-Gyane
9.Resource Centre-D.K. Poison
10.Tennis Centre Court’-Frank Ofori
11.Stadium Upper Terrace-Richard Acquaye
12.Osu Stand- Roy Ankrah
13.Osu Gate-Alice Anum
14.South Stand–Chris- Briandt
15.North Stand-May 9 Stand
16.West Terrace-Kumasi Stadium CK Gyamfi
17.East Terrace W.K-Mfum
18.North Stsnd- Christiana Boateng
19.South Stand-James Adjei
20.National Hockey pitch -Theodosia Okoh
21.VIP Stand Hockey Stadium- Evans Anfom
22.Tamale Stadium-Aliu Mahama
23.Kaneshie Sports Complex-Azumah Nelson
24.Athletics Training Centre (Kumasi)- A.O.Lawson
25.Cape Coast Stadium-Robert Mensah
Annual Events
1.Mike Ahey-National athletics championships
2.Annual E.A. Quaye- National Table Tennis championships
3. Annual Roy Ankrah- National Amateur Boxing championships. For the necessary attention of the new NSA boss.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
PIX: Mr. Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah, suspended NSA Boss
