In honour of our gallant stars of yesterday

My deliberations over whether Ghana is a country which cherishes politicians than sportsmen were somehow brought to an end when the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) decided last weekend to regress the name of the national sports stadium in Accra to Accra Sports Stadium. The change in name, according to AMA, is to make the name appear more Ga inclined and also to be in line with the Accra Millennium City Project.

However, what has perplexed me the most is the silence with which Ghanaians have welcomed this injustice against our sportsmen in the country. And the question is whether the decision would have enjoyed the same golden silence if it had been meted out to a politician.

It is very appalling how Ghanaians enjoy politics than sports; while the former most often divide us, the latter unites us. The disintegration comes as a result of the divide-and-rule tactics which our politicians copied from our British colonial master, who adopted this strategy to rule their vast empire before the Second World War.

Undeniably, sports is a major unifying factor across the globe. This factor is one of the many reasons why different groups and individuals are mostly called up to form a team; which subsequently appear at tournaments consisting of different countries.

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) is the international football body to which all other national football bodies conform to. This has made it the main architect of peace building in the world, aside from the United Nations (UN).

Various campaigns have been waged against human right abuses in the world by this organization and it has been a friend to the marginalised through its campaign against racism. “Say no to racism” is a major campaign by this body to fight for racial equality in the global community.

And Ghana as a member of FIFA has almost always acted according to the rules and guidelines of this international body. The country has achieved much in terms of sports and it is also an undeniable fact that sports have really carried the country’s name far globally.

To anyone who has forgotten about the achievements this country has chalked in other disciplines apart from football, I believe the mention of boxing personalities like D.K Poison, Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey and Frank Ofori of the golden racket fame will be enough to quickly awaken their memories. This is not to forget about the role of sports administrators who facilitated their victories.

To The Governor, the least said about the achievements of certain footballers like Abdul Razak, Jones Attuquayefio, Rev. Osei Kofi and Abedi Pele of our contemporary time, the better. These were gallant men from Ghana who ruled the continent of Africa in their days.

To coach C.K Gyamfi and his gallant squads of 1965 and 1982 who won the African Cup of Nations, we say Ayekoo. And this country will not be far from right when a national day is instituted to honour the gallant men and women who distinguished themselves in various disciplines.

The appalling living conditions of certain stars of yesterday has led to the conclusion that it will not be far from right when a national fund is instituted to cater for the welfare of old stars who could not make anything out of their area of specialty in their days. Ghana needs to cherish these individuals and convince them to feel a sense of belongingness in the country of their birth.

It is because we have not been able to do any of these that I did not see anything wrong with the decision of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to name certain sporting venues after these men. As a matter of fact, the naming of these edifices after gallant men of the sporting fraternity in the country enjoyed and will continue to enjoy the full support of The Governor.

At least if we could not set out a date in a year to remember and honour our heroes and heroines, I felt it was a consolation award for they that carried the nation shoulder high during the days of their youth. They indeed distinguished themselves and deserved more than that.

It is against this backdrop that The Governor believes it is shameful on the part of AMA to take such a disgraceful decision to forever forget about the contribution Ohene Djan made to Ghana football and deny him of a national honour. There is no other justification for this decision apart from tribal considerations which they themselves spelt out during the meeting to change the name.

It must be placed on record that the AMA after its … congress decided to re-name the magnificent sporting edifice located in the heart of the capital Accra Sports Stadium after it received petitions from various individuals and groups such as the Ga-Adangbe Youth Movement. And it is time we bow our heads down in shame if we seek to give a basis for people who are tribally inclined to shamefully propagate their propaganda in a country that is striving to attain the status of nationhood. This status will be enough to inculcate patriotic tendencies in the younger generation.

Indirectly, the decision is communicating to like-minded individuals and groups in the country to also come up with their various agenda that will seek to project tribal interest over national considerations. Hence should be condemned entirely by all well-meaning Ghanaians who think of national interest over tribal considerations. And even if such a decision would be taken, why not try any of the national monuments in the capital which have been named after political leaders? Moreover, do we have to necessarily deny our sporting heroes of the poor man’s reward which we have offered them only to please tribal groups and individuals?

The massive endorsement of this solo decision by stakeholders in the country must not go without comment. The Governor could imagine the condemnation the unanimous decision would have enjoyed if it was against a political party in the country. The National Sports Council (NSC) must do something about this decision and on the question of whether tribal considerations should continue to override national and sporting interests in a country that is seeking to maintain unity in the midst of the sea of chaos surrounding it.