My recent write-up on how the Kumasi Sports Stadium was named after the late international football star, Baba Yara, affectionately called King of wingers, has raised a lot of interesting questions from the sporting public.
The predominant query from readers is how come we were told two decades ago a committee had been formed to honour a large number of the nation’s sports personalities but it’s only names like Baba Yara, Azumah Nelson, Theodosia Okoh and Hathiramani are the few that we hear about.
The most recent addition, Aliu Mahama might have been a sports personality of Real Tamale United fame but it is obvious the Tamale Stadium was named after him not because of sports but for his political credentials as former Vice President of the Republic. I believe these are genuine concerns by the sporting public and the nation must not forget her sporting legends. The fact is there is a full scale report on this issue lying idle in the shelves at the Ministry of Sports since 2004 that contains a well prepared document carefully naming sports personalities to be honoured by the State.
Incidentally, I was an active member of the seven-member committee headed by veteran sports administrator Dr Owusu Ansah that toiled ceaselessly for nearly a year to research and compile the report, which was approved by then Sports Minister, the affable, hardworking Kwadwo Baah Wiredu (May his soul rest in peace).
Other committee members were Frank Apeagyei, Oheneba Charles, Randy Abbey, Mrs Elizabeth Quarmye and Kofi Aggrey, secretary.
The Committee was inaugurated on June 3, 2003 by Mr Joe Aggrey, then deputy minister of sports. And the report was ready within a year getting approval on May 19 2004.
In view of public interest in the report, I have decided to be a self-appointed spokesman for the committee and publish extracts of the report for public consumption. Since the report was made public as far back as 2004, I don’t think I shall be committing any offence if I make copies available to the Sports Writers Association of Ghana and the Sports Ministry in case their copies are missing.
The committee’s terms of reference were to identify for honour sportsmen and sports women who have made significant contribution to Ghana’s image in sports, and those who have contributed to the development and promotion of sports in Ghana.
It also identified sports facilities, localities, and structures that can be named after distinguished personalities in sports, eg gates, lanes inner and outer parts fence walls, and other notable spaces at national Stadia, especially Accra and Kumasi Stadium. The committee also recommended the establishment of museums and sports libraries in Accra and Kumasi and undertake.
The Committee traced the history of Ghana’s participation in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games and Afcon from 1952 to date and identified the athletes, sportsmen and sportswomen who represented the nation at such competitions.
Sports administrators and technical personnel whose acts and thoughts have impacted positively on sports development were also identified.
The Committee made a clear distinction between performers and administrators who should be qualified to be placed in a Hall of Fame and the very few who should in addition be accorded honour as sports heroes.
There was a recommendation to name Sports facilities, structures and events after some personalities.
Accra Stadium after Ohene Djan; Stadium Library, H. P. Nyemitei; Sports Hall, D.G. Hathiramani; Sports Hall South stand, Ethel Jacks North Stand; Ike Quartey.
Press centre, Kofi Badu; Stadium clinic, Dr Nkansa Gyan; Resource Centre, D.K. Poison; Tennis centre court, Frank Ofori; Upper Terrace, Richard Acquaye; Osu stand, Roy Ankrah; Osu Gate, Alice Anum South Stand Chris Briandt, North Stand May 9 Stand.
Kumasi Stadium East Terrace, W. K Mfum;
North Stand, Christiana Boateng; South stand, James Adjei; East Stand, Evans Anfom; Tamale Stadium, Abedi Pele; Kaneshie sports Complex, Azumah Nelson.
Athletics Training Centre in Kumasi, A.O Lawson; Cape Coast Old Stadium, Robert Mensah.
National annual athletics championships to be named after Mike Ahey; National Table Tennis competition named after E.A Quaye and Annual National Amateur Boxing series named after Roy Ankrah.
The Committee made it clear that the list compiled in 2004 cannot be said to be the final because the exercise of identification would always be ongoing and possibly inexhaustible.
It is definitely unfair to say Ghana has not unearthed any outstanding sports personalities since 2004 when the Black Stars were yet to play in the FIFA World Cup and an Olympic boxing bronze medallist was in the waiting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
I sincerely suggest the Sports Ministry must dust the files in their offices and continue from where Baah Wiredu and Co left off. It may be a good idea to set up a committee of younger historians to continue from where we, the oldies, left off in 2004 and update the records.
Honouring our past sports personalities is a lofty idea and the exercise must be sustained.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
