By Ken Bediako
It is surprising that a whole lot of the sporting public has forgotten the fact that the Kufuor administration inaugurated a Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. In fact, the Hall of Fame concept was one of the major recommendations by a committee set up to recognize outstanding sports personalities in Ghana. The late veteran sports administrator Dr Owusu Ansah headed the committee that inaugurated Ghana’s first Sports Hall of Fame at an impressive ceremony at Alisa Hotel in Accra. The actual Hall of fame edifice was temporarily located in one of the offices at Accra Stadium near the electronic scoreboard awaiting a permanent outfit at a future Olympic Sports Complex most probably with Borteyman in mind.
The Committee decided to make a clear distinction between performers and administrators who should qualify to be placed in the Hall of Fame and the very few who should, in addition, be accorded honour as sports heroes. Starting from today I will be serialising the first batch of outstanding sports personalities identified by the Committee.
The selected administrators are:
1 RICHARD ACQUAYE
The pioneer football administrator who laid a solid foundation for the country at pre-independence. He masterminded the first ever trip by the national football team to Britain in 1951. This was a trip that opened the eyes of the players and they returned home to start playing in boots.
2. OHENE DJAN
The first Director of Sports for the new Independent Ghana. He rose to become executive member of both CAF and FIFA. He revolutionised Ghana sports in general and football in particular with his popular “mass participation” concept.
He mooted the idea of the nation’s favourite pastime-The National Football League (renamed Premier league) now in its 66th year.
3. KOFI BADU
The powerful sportswriter who, through his writing in the 50s, greatly contributed to the tremendous strides Ghana made in sports, football and boxing in particular.
4. H.P NYEMITEI
Reputed sports administrator affectionately called the grey-haired soccer philosopher. He was the brain behind the tour to Ghana of the legendary football genius Sir Stanley Matthews of Britain in 1957. This tour greatly gave Ghana football a fresh impetus and introduced the country to the era of scientific football. He was twice FA chairman. In 1969, as FA chairman, he arranged the tour to Ghana of the famous Brazilian team Santos featuring the world acclaimed super star Edson Arantes dos Nascimento popularly known as Pele.
5.D.G. HATHIRAMANI
Affectionately called the “Table Tennis Servant of Ghana,” a naturalised Ghanaian of Indian origin, Hathiramani single handedly produced more than 60 percent of Ghana’s table tennis stars spanning nearly four decades. He further donated his residence to the Government for the promotion of sports.
6. MRS THEODOSIA OKOH known in sporting circles as “Joan of Arc of Ghana Sports.” She influenced the building of the national hockey pitch in Accra. For many years she chaired the hockey Association and gave it a big boost, especially in schools and colleges.
A good artist in her own right it is on record that she designed the Ghana National Flag.
7. Dr YAW NKANSA GYANE for many years, Ghana’s representative on the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). AS President of the Ghana Olympic Committee he revived the spirit of Olympism in Ghana. He gave the Ghana Olympic Committee a new look that has made it now an important cog in the wheels of Ghana’s sports development. He was honoured by the state in 1979 (Grand medal civil division) for his contribution to the development of medicine and sports in Ghana in particular and Africa in general.
Professional boxing greats
1. ROY ANKRAH
First Ghanaian Commonwealth champion popularly called the Black Flash. He really raised the flag of Ghana internationally in the pre-independence days. On retirement from the ring, he became National boxing coach and produced two Olympic Games medalists Ike Quartey Snr and Eddie Blay and numerous Africa and Commonwealth Games medalists. For example, in the 1962 Commonwealth Games, Ghana under Roy Ankrah, was adjudged the best Commonwealth amateur boxing nation with two gold and four silver medals. In other words, Ghana had six boxers in the final.
2. D K POISON
First Ghanaian professional boxer to win World title beating Reuben Olivares of Mexico in Los Angeles Sept 1975.
3. AZUMAH NELSON A long reigning world boxing champion and former Africa and Commonwealth Games Gold medalists who was acknowledged as one of the top ten pound for pound boxers in the world.
Amateur Boxing great IKE QUARTEY Snr First and to date the only Ghanaian Olympic silver medalists (Rome 1960) Commonwealth Games gold medalist Perth 1962.
ATHLETICS (men)
Mike Ahey. Long jump gold and a record Commonwealth Games Perth 1962.
(To be contd).
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
