The campaign to restore the name of Ohene Djan to the Accra Sports Stadium is a cause that refuses to die. And rightly so.
In 2004, the government took a laudable step, deciding to honour our sporting legends by naming facilities after them. Icons like Baba Yara, Azumah Nelson, D.G. Hathiramani, Mrs. Thodosia Okoh, and Ohene Djan were rightfully celebrated. Yet, barely six months later, in a baffling act of historical vandalism, Ohene Djan’s name was unceremoniously stripped from the stadium by what was alleged to be a gang of hired thugs. The sports authorities have since turned a blind eye to this desecration of our nation’s sporting heritage, leaving many to wonder if Ghanaians truly take their history for granted.
But the sages remind us that better late than never. It is in this spirit that I wholeheartedly commend Ace Radio sports presenter Dan Kwaku Yeboah of Peace FM. He has quietly and admirably launched a crusade to have Ohene Djan’s name reinstated at the Accra Sports Stadium, if not for anything else, for the sake of posterity. I back him to the hilt. My motivation is deeply personal. As a young sportswriter with the Daily Graphic in the 1960s, I had a ringside seat to the golden era when Ohene Djan, as Ghana’s first Director of Sports, single-handedly put our nation on the global sporting map.
His record of achievement is undeniable: the historic Olympic silver medal by boxer Ike Quartey Snr at the 1960 Rome Olympics, the gold medals in athletics and boxing at the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games, back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations triumphs in 1963 and 1965, and organising Ghana’s first-ever world professional title fight for Floyd Robertson in 1964. The list is long and glorious.
Perhaps his most foundational contribution was being one of the masterminds behind the inauguration of the National Football League in 1958. As chairman of the FA at its inception, and later as the powerful Executive Secretary of the Central Organisation of Sports (COS) from 1960, Ohene Djan ran the league with an iron fist and a sharp mind until the coup of 1966 cut his tenure short.
Starting this week, I will share my recollections of how the national league fared under his administration, beginning with that historic first season.
1958: Hearts of Oak Win the Maiden League
After the chaos of an abandoned competition in 1957, order was restored in March 1958. The newly elected chairman of the Ghana Football Association (then GAFA) launched a properly organised national league, declaring the FA as the sole authority for all inter-club competitions. Ohene Djan, in his inaugural address, outlined the league’s purpose: “to provide a constant flow of material for international assignments and provide Ghanaians generally with a well-needed source of relaxation.”
The strongest eight clubs from the four municipalities of Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi, and Cape Coast were selected to compete on a home-and-away basis. These pioneer clubs were:
· Accra: Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics
· Kumasi: Asante Kotoko and Cornerstone
· Sekondi: Hasaacas and Eleven Wise
· Cape Coast: Mysterious Dwarfs and Venomous Vipers
From July 6th to November 16th, 1958, the battle for supremacy was waged. Accra Hearts of Oak, determined to prove their gold medal from two years prior was no fluke, emerged as the first champions with 21 points. They were closely pursued by the two Kumasi clubs, Cornerstone (20 points) and Asante Kotoko (19 points). Great Olympics, despite being early favourites after a string of impressive away wins, crumbled under pressure towards the end of the competition.
The Roots of a Rivalry
The proverbial rivalry between Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak has its roots firmly planted in this very first season. Their initial fixture on August 24, 1958, in Kumasi was abandoned in the second half due to crowd violence, with Hearts leading 4-3.
The match had been a thriller. Hearts took a commanding 3-0 half-time lead through Ofei Dodoo, Charles Kumi Gyamfi, and Nii Dowuona. Kotoko stormed back after the break, scoring three times in ten minutes through Kwame Adarkwa, Wilberforce Mfum, and Fred Akuffo. Ofei Dodoo then restored Hearts’ lead, making it 4-3, before a clash of heads between Hearts’ goalkeeper Addoquaye Laryea and Kotoko’s Moro Gago incited fans to invade the pitch. The League Management Committee ordered a replay, which Hearts won convincingly 5-2 at the Jackson Park on November 2nd.
Hearts, by now popularly known as “The Phobians”—a nickname coined by their vociferous supporters—were officially crowned champions on November 16th, five days after their 47th anniversary.
A Bitter-Sweet Coronation
Asante Kotoko almost spoiled the coronation, defeating the new champions 4-2 at the Accra Sports Stadium on the final matchday. Baba Yara opened the scoring for Kotoko in the 15th minute, but Adu Darko equalised from the spot ten minutes later. Fred Akuffo restored Kotoko’s lead, again from a penalty, and Agyiri-Fynn levelled for Hearts just before half-time.
The match, however, ended in an anti-climax. A post-match brawl erupted between players and spilled into the stands among supporters. Police had to intervene to safely escort the Kotoko players to their dressing room.
Mr. H. P. Nyemitei, then President of Accra Hearts of Oak, publicly condemned the actions of his own fans, calling it a “shocking attack on the Kotoko players and supporters.” He recalled condemning a similar attack on Hearts in Kumasi and stated, “I cannot condone this just because it comes from my camp.” He prophetically suggested the formation of a Union of National League Clubs to foster better relations—an idea that would eventually evolve a decade later into what is now GHALCA (Ghana League Clubs Association), a powerful and indispensable affiliate of the Football Association.
Stars and Strugglers
The 1958 season unearthed exciting talents like Aggrey-Fynn of Hasaacas, Duncan of Vipers, and Asante Kotoko’s Kwame Adarkwa, who would go on to grace the Black Stars in the early sixties. At the other end of the table, Cape Coast Venomous Vipers set an unwanted record, failing to win a single match throughout the competition.
Thus, the foundation was laid. A league was born, rivalries were forged, and the stage was set for a golden decade of Ghana football under the watchful eye of Ohene Djan.
Cheers everybody, and keep loving sports.
