Old bicycles on show in Maputo

By Kofi Akordor
After a rather poor performance in the cycling events at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, the Mozambican capital, our cyclists offered a weird and rather sad and embarrassing excuse. Their bicycles were old, outmoded and worn out.
According to the story, two cyclists actually had punctures in the men’s individual trial and men’s team trial races and some of our cyclists had to fall on some other competing nationals to put their bicycles in good shape for the event.
Do we need to say more? It is not only a national disgrace; the events of Maputo also exposed traits of a national character which does not place value on national pride and where people entrusted with national responsibilities can afford to do anything, knowing well that there are no penalties to pay.
We have a reputation for being ardent patrons of second-hand goods because our governments have accepted that. So, having endorsed it as part of our national culture is itself an acceptance of our failure to cater for our own needs. 
But should we go to such a prestigious continental sporting event as the All Africa Games with old and worn-out bicycles? How much would it have cost this dear nation of ours to provide our cyclists with the best of bicycles on the market to showcase their talents on the continental stage and live up to the image of Ghana as the first Black nation south of the Sahara to gain political freedom from colonial domination?
How best can we advertise our country as the land of gold, one of the largest producers of top-grade cocoa beans and lately our emergence as an oil-producing country on the continent than to use the platform offered by sports to make a strong case for our country?
Even before the national teams left for the games, there were complaints of poor training facilities, inadequate resources and near neglect by the government and the sports authorities. These problems followed them to Maputo, and from reports which have not been countered by the authorities, our athletes had to suffer unnecessarily because of our failure to pay an earlier fine of US$74,000.
While some were detained at the airport for several hours, members of our contingent had to do with substandard facilities. It was obvious we were ill-prepared for the games and those charged with the responsibility to take charge of Team Ghana took things for granted, counting on the fact that at the end of the day the determination of the Ghanaian and his survival instincts would push the athletes through.
Sports is longer just an entertainment event. It has become a platform where countries win psychological wars over their opponents. Many countries now use sports to the fullest to create big psychological images for  themselves and their people. 
It has also become a huge commercial activity where athletes win fame and glory. Young men and women who otherwise would be scavenging for survival are turned into wealthy citizens more useful to themselves and their societies.
It is, therefore, important that we invest more in sports than we are doing now. Even though sports holds a lot of promise for this country, our approach to its development at the grass-root levels leaves much to be desired.
An example is the lack of sporting facilities in the various communities and the neglect of existing ones. A visit to the Kaneshie Sports Complex, now renamed the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, leaves one wondering if the place deserves to be named after a great sports personality such as the boxing professor, Zoom Zoom Azumah Nelson, a man who brought fame to himself and put Ghana on the boxing map of the world in practical terms.
This is a facility which was built during the Acheampong regime with the purpose of serving as a breeding ground for young talents in various sporting disciplines and as camping venue for national teams.
The question of lack of funds is ruled out. It is simply neglect and lack of national attention. How can we have a ministry responsible for sports and neglect a facility which is supposed to be a national monument to celebrate personal and national achievement right in the heart of our national capital?
A lot of the youth roaming the streets who, out of desperation, have become a danger to society could become breadwinners and even national heroes if a well-defined youth development policy with sports as an integral part is put in place.
To start with, let us give the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex a new face to befit the status of the man it was named after. Let us build more community sports facilities to include tennis and basketball courts, boxing gyms and swimming pools.
I could see the words, “No money”  forming on the lips of our big people. You know we do not get money to do the right things in our country. But I bet that every little investment made in sports development means millions of dollars as returns from the stars that will be produced.
Jamaicans and other Caribbean people are not different from us. But the fact that they are able to produce top sprinters in abundance when we are not should be a puzzle we should all try to unravel. The difference, we believe, lies in commitment.
We should know where our strength lies and exploit it.  We may not be technologically advanced but we have a huge potential in sports which, with a committed and dedicated approach and investment, can bring  us national glory and wealth.
All said and done, we should use every available opportunity to raise high the flag of Ghana, instead of bring dishonour to the motherland by hastily pushing ill-prepared and ill-equipped sports men and women into the international arena to be mocked at and frowned upon.
We thank Team Ghana that, notwithstanding the shabby treatment and the disinterest shown in their preparation, departure and participation in the games, they were still able to chalk up some achievements and brought glory to all of us.
fokofi@yahoo.co.uk
kofiakordor.blogspot.com