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Takyi goofed but… (Final part)
Samuel Takyi
The MoYS statement categorised the $50,000 as follows – $10,000 as reward for the bronze medal, $20,000 to procure a vehicle for the boxer and the rest of the $20,000 to be invested in his career – specifically to fund his training, equipment and other requirement to enable him reach his full potential as a boxer.
The statement said the fund was not meant to be disbursed directly to Mr Takyi, but rather to be invested strategically in his development.
Gladly, government fulfilled its promise by presenting $10,000 to Takyi on November 18, 2021; presented a car on the same day and followed up with an amount of $5,000 on December 16, 2022.
This implies that out of the $20,000.00 meant for his personal development, a balance of $10,000 is now payable to him when he presents a good personal plan.
Clearly, all the back-and-forth between MoYS and the boxer could have been avoided if there was a clear-cut reward structure by government or the MoYS athletes.
Considering this is not the first time controversies over athletes’ rewards have come up, and this may not be the last; so the earlier something was done about it to avert future occurrences, the better it will be for all.
As far back as August 2014, there was a similar occurrence after Abdul Wahib Omar won bronze despite losing his semi-final bout to Louis Colin in flyweight at the Commonwealth Games.
Omar, then 22 years, was to receive $1,000 as a reward for winning one of the two medals Ghana won at the Glasgow Games. The other winner was Judoka Razak Abugri.
Many years after that, the reward remained unfulfilled.
“I have given up on the chase for that money. I have been made to go up and down several times. When I go there, they tell me the minister is not in.” This was the response the last time we discussed that issue.
Such is the frustration athletes go through after the long period of hard work to compete at the highest level to put Ghana’s flag on the international map as a sports nation.
This, I believe, has become an issue because of the absence of a structured reward scheme to guide authorities in awarding athletes.
Secondly, by our way of administering boxing, especially at the amateur level, demanding a developmental plan from a boxer before receiving his reward is like asking a man to walk on water.
Fact is, most of these boxers are usually on their own; they do everything for themselves. A few lucky ones among them enjoy the benevolence of their coaches who support their training and a little stipends to survive.
It is when they begin to show signs of promise that they begin to attract managers, some of whom come with varied interest.
So, imagine a boxer in need of money but without the ability to produce a development plan; he falls prey to whoever he approaches for help.
Maybe, what the authorities fail to realise is that a development plan is no guarantee for the success of a boxer and the earlier their real needs and problems were identified with ways found to address them, the better it will be for all the parties.
Most of these boxers lack decent places of abode. Most of them do not work so it even beats imagination why the choice to always think about cars if such athletes were to be rewarded.
The choice of a car would only change the boxer’s lifestyle and use a chunk of the cash reward on fuel. With no work to earn additional funds or income, every expenditure of the boxer would be from it and in no time, they would go broke.
Assuming a boxer uses part of the initial instalment to hire a simple but decent accommodation, after sometime, he would have to renew his tenancy agreement and in no time, could go cashless.
I have a simple advice for MoYS or government regarding a reward scheme for boxers or maybe all other athletes.
Preference may differ but with boxers whose conditions of living is nothing impressive to write home about, a $50,000 package coming in various forms could be used to procure a decent accommodation for the boxer or whichever athlete is involved; of course consideration must be given to whether he/she has one already or not.
This is an issue that must be given a serious attention while Takyi prepares a development plan to get the rest of the money released to him
By Andrew Nortey
Hot!
ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
