Features
Bring smiles on the faces of Ghanaians, Black Stars
Andre Dede Ayew
Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had a strong and firm caution to the 35-year old striker of the Uruguay national team, Luis Suarez, who prevented the Black Stars, the Ghanaian national football team from advancing to the semi- final stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In the 2010 World Cup, Ghana progressed beyond the group stages to reach the quarter- finals only to be eliminated by Uruguay in such a bizarre circumstance.The game itself, ended in a 1-1 draw, after which Ghana was eliminated on penalties by Uruguay.
LUIS SUAREZ’S HANDBALL AGAINST GHANA
It was Luis Suarez’s handball against Ghana which prevented the ball from entering their own goal post after the ball had “beaten” the goalkeeper, and that denied Ghana the chance to advance to the semi-final stages of the World Cup tournament in 2010.The resultant penalty was painfully missed by the Ghanaian captain and striker, Asamoah Gyan. That crucial penalty missed, which otherwise could have sent the Black Stars to the semi- finals, drew a lot of criticisms on Asamoah Gyan from a section of the Ghanaian public.
Reminiscing that painful experience when President Akufo-Addo received the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, sponsored by the Coca Cola International at the Jubilee House in Accra on Saturday night of September 3, 2022, the elated President did not mince words when he said that, Ghana had to wait for 12 years for a revenge against Uruguay and, “we assure them that this time, the hand of Suarez will not save them against the Black Stars of Ghana. They are going down”.
PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO’S WORLD CUP PREDICTION
The President whose speech was delivered on his behalf by his Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, during a two-day of events in Ghana to signify the arrival of the World Cup trophy on Ghanaian soil said Ghana would be the first country to lift the FIFA World Cup in Qatar this year. Hear the President; “I am of the firm confidence that Ghana will not take part in the competition but also to make the entire nation and, therefore, the African continent proud with superb performance. I therefore, want to urge all Ghanaians to throng to the Accra Polo Court to view the trophy and be part of history, before we finally bring the cup home on December 18, 2022. We, who were the first to gain our freedom and independence from colonial rule, will be the first to bring the World Cup to Africa”.
GHANA’S OPPONENTS IN THE WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT
According to the tournament fixtures, the Black Stars will begin its first match against Portugal on November 24, 2022, at Stadium 974 in Doha. Four days later, Ghana will return to action with a clash with South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. The team will then wrap up its group stage adventure with its much- anticipated encounter with Uruguay at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
Ghana has so far tasted the World Cup tournament three times being 2006, 2010 and 2014, and this year’s event will be its fourth time. Nigeria, Ghana’s next door neighbour through which Ghana won its qualification to the 2022 edition of the tournament has participated in the tournament six times. Cameroon and Ghana, are the African teams to have gone the farthest at the World Cup tournament, reaching the quarter-final stages.
ARRIVAL OF COCA COLA WORLD CUP TROPHY IN GHANA
Indeed, the arrival of the 18 karat pure gold trophy in Ghana has heightened the World Cup tournament fever in the country as it has given football fans the chance to experience the coveted prize as it makes its way to all the 32 FIFA World Cup qualifying nations for the first time.The majority of Ghanaians both old and young and toddlers came from near and afar, to have a feel of the trophy and took pictures with the golden cup as it was displayed at the Accra Polo Court for public viewing.
The Coca Cola International has had a long-standing relationship with FIFA since 1976 and has been an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup tournament since 1978. The company has advertised at every FIFA World Cup tournament stadia since 1950 and is a long- time supporter of football at all levels. This is the fifth time that the company and FIFA have come together to bring the World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca Cola to the world.
PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR BLACK STARS’ PREPARATIONS
With barely two months to this world soccer fiesta knocking on our doors, it is very necessary and important for us as a nation to commit all the resources needed to prepare a formidable team to represent and fly high the flag of Ghana in far-away Qatar. We should leave no stone unturned to raise the needed funds and logistics to support this important tournament which is aimed at uniting the entire world. Football is the greatest passion of almost every nation across the globe, because it serves as a unifying weapon to countries worldwide. Once Ghana has earned its qualification to the tournament through the hard way, it is incumbent on the government to commit the needed resources through sponsorship initiatives as well as making it flexible for companies which are anxious to sponsor the programme to come on board with various tax rebates.
The President is upbeat about Ghana winning the trophy which can be possible because the country is also blessed with an array of talented and skillful players who are recognised internationally in global soccer tournaments because of their association with major teams in the world. Our coaches, led by hard working and indefatigable Otto Addo, who himself had played for Ghana before and knows what it takes to win matches, are ever ready to build and shape the team to participate fully in this great FIFA World Cup tournament in mid- November.
GHANA-BRAZIL FRIENDSHIP GAME IS COMMENDABLE
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the coaches’ decision to play friendly matches with some of the top class football nations, such as almighty Brazil who for now have no challenger in world soccer, is the greatest decision ever taken to prepare our team against all odds as we face teams like Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay, who are all difficult and dangerous to handle. Brazil has been a difficult nut to crack anytime Ghana had played with them and, therefore, playing a friendly match with them prior to the start of the tournament is a step in the right direction and we need to commend those behind the arrangement.
For now, all that Ghanaians are clamouring for, is for the coaches to monitor and begin their training with the young players, especially those with dual nationalities who have switched nationalities to play for Ghana because of the love they have for this country. Looking at the number of players we have at the moment and their subsequent performances globally, it would be very difficult and hectic for the coaches to select and form their team. There should not be any room for half-fit players since the game depends on excessive energy. However, we have to give our coaches the benefit of the doubt; they are in charge and know what they will be looking for as far as the selection of players is concerned. The buck stops with Coach Otto Addo to select the best out of the lot; he takes responsibility for his own action and inaction and, therefore, must be left to do his own thing.
MEDIA ROLE IN THE WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT
As we wait for the team to be finally constituted by our head coach and his assistants, it is important for the Ghanaian media, especially, radio and television to be supported with funds and logistics to start playing jingles as well as organising programmes for the various national supporters’ unions just as it was done in 2010 when we participated in the World Cup in South Africa, to heighten the fever in the country.
This is the time to change the general mood of this country in which the people are confronted with severe economic hardship by using this global football fiesta on the world most prestigious calendar to at least bring relief and happiness to Ghanaians.
By Charles Neequaye
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When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
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