By Ken Bediako
Ghana pulled out of the Montreal Olympics at the last minute when the contingent of boxers, athletes and footballers were already at the Games Village. The withdrawal was in sympathy with other African countries in protest against New Zealand’s sporting links with apartheid South Africa
Ghana had sent a contingent of well-prepared boxers, athletes and Black Stars footballers to Montreal when that political decision was taken that African nations should in solidarity boycott the Games.
The Ghana contingent led by Brigadier Robert Kotei, member of the ruling Supreme Military Council, made hurried consultations with Accra and the Kutu Acheampong government decreed that the contingent should return home much to the disappointment of the competitors and team officials.
Ghana had already assembled perhaps the most well-prepared team for the Olympics. Both officials and the practitioners were visibly disappointed.
Indeed, Dr Yaw Nkansa-Gyane then chairman of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Association could not hide his disgust at the boycott. He was extremely vocal against the decision to boycott the Games He strongly argued it was most unfair to his boxers who had trained over a long period in search of honours. The huge expenses on training tours was also a factor he further argued. Brig. Kotei himself a former national high jump champion agreed with the sentiments of Dr Nkansa-Gyane but explained it was a political decision taken by the whole of Africa and Ghana had to comply. At this stage Lt. Col Simpe Asante, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Sports, had arrived from Tokyo after watching D.K. Poison successfully defending his World featherweight boxing title against Fukuyama of Japan. He said Ghana had no choice but to quit the Games. For the records, Head of state Gen. Acheampong was the Commissioner for Sports, so his special assistant Simpe Asante’s words carried heavyweight. End of matter.
The football contingent of the Black Stars was made up of John Baker, Sam Ampeh (goalkeepers), Enoch Asumadu, PSK Paha, Kuuku Dadzie, Dan Oppong, Awuley Quaye, Lomo Mitchell (defence), Mama Acquah, Dan Owusu, Anas Seidu, Isaac Eshun, Abdul Razak, Emmanuel Quarshie, Agyeman Badu, Ibrahim Kassum and Mohammed Polo.
It is recalled that Accra Hearts of Oak top striker
Robert Hammond, then easily the nation’s most outstanding player was dropped from the team for alleged indiscipline amidst spontaneous protests from the football public but to no avail. The
Black Stars officials were Major Edward Anin team manager; Dr K Dey, team doctor; Coaches Asebi Boakye, Oswaldo Sampaio; and Sgt. Thomas Boateng, masseur.
The athletics contingent comprised sprinters Ohene Karikari, Daniel Phillips, George Daniels, George Enchill, Sandy Osei Agyemang and Makarios Djan.
Others were Joseph Bandu Joe Apeagyei J R. Adams (long jump) and Joshua Owusu (triple jump).
The women athletes were Hannah Afriyie, Grace Bakari, (sprints)Janet Yawson (long jump), Elizabeth Bruce(hurdles) and Rose Hart(discus).
The boxing squad was made up of light flyweight Eric Boone Quatsey, flyweight Anthony Abacheng Lightwelterweight Mohammed Dauda, Welterweight Musa Gariba Lightmiddleweight Moro Tahiru, middleweight Amon Kotey and Lightheavyweight Mama Mohammed.
The Ghana media was also well represented in Montreal by a four-man squad namely Ben Eghan Jnr and Ken Amoah from GBC, Sammy Aduagyei from the Ghanaian Times and yours truly from the Daily Graphic. The story is that since we had fully paid upfront for boarding and lodging with no refund, we decided to stay and cover the festival somehow. In the absence of our participating sportsmen and sportswomen our conscience however made us feel uncomfortable at the press centre and we eventually had to leave Montreal five days into the Games.
Ben Eghan had managed to trace an old Canadian colleague during his TV training course in the 60s who made us feel at home but atmosphere at the press centre was really insipid. An early exit from Canada became the wise option.
Taking advantage of the flexible nature of our Air tickets we managed some adventurous overnight stop overs in Washington and London on our way back home.
Very exciting experience if you ask me, watching for the first time, strip tease, topless servers at night clubs et al.
MOSCOW 1980 OLYMPICS
For the second successive Olympics, Ghana was not represented at the Moscow Games. This time the boycott was in sympathy with the United States of America who masterminded the withdrawal because of political differences with the Soviet Union over the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. More than 67 countries mostly Africans and Western allies of the USA boycotted the Games.
Next episode will be Los, Angeles 1984.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
