体坛英语新闻： Ghana sports enthusiasts fume over hockey stadium name change

by Alex Osei-Boateng

ACCRA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The decision of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) to rename its national hockey stadium after Ghana's former President John Evans Atta Mills sparked controversy and condemnation among sports enthusiasts here on Thursday.

The authorities of the AMA on Tuesday renamed the stadium from Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium to John Evans Attah Mills Hockey Stadium after ex-president Mills as part of activities to mark the one year remembrance anniversary of his death.

Hockey lovers then have kicked against the name change of the pitch already named after Theodosia Okoh, a former national hockey star and chair of the Ghana Hockey Association.

The decision to honor the late president was taken in recognition of his achievements in hockey, particularly for ensuring the construction of the modern stadium just months after assuming power in 2009.

However, the decision has received widespread condemnation from sports followers and administrators, describing the action as illegal, dishonorable and disrespectful.

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) added its voice to the debate and appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to get the AMA to reverse its decision.

A statement signed by SWAG president, Ackah Anthony, said the sudden change in name of the stadium was wrong in terms of timing and smacked of disrespect to Okoh.

Okoh was a national hockey star who went on to chair the National Hockey Association. She was also instrumental in securing the present site for the hockey stadium at a time the AMA tried to take over the land for an expanded lorry station.

The statement said though the SWAG recognized the contribution of the late president to the development of hockey in Ghana as well as his personal efforts in the construction of the modern facility, the late president Mills would never have agreed to the change.

It described the decision as a dent on the one year celebration of the late president and his achievements since the issue had stirred unnecessary bad feelings.

"At a time when we should be reminding ourselves about the achievements of the late president in both politics and sports, the AMA, through its action, has marred the celebration with its unpopular decision," Ackah added. He urged President Mahama to quickly intervene to save the good name of the late president.

The decision to name the hockey facility after Okoh was taken in 2004 after careful deliberations and consultations by a competent group of people who formed a committee set up by the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

"Her role in the development of Ghana hockey, where she was even nicknamed Jean d'Arc of Ghana hockey, is equally recognizable. She was not the only one who had a sports facility named after her," Joe Aggrey, a former deputy minister of Youth and Sports, said "the decision by the AMA certainly demeans whatever role Okoh played for Ghana hockey."

Meanwhile, the 91-year-old Madam Okoh, who is also credited for designing Ghana's national flag, has expressed disappointment at attempts to change her name on the National Hockey Pitch she pioneered in constructing during the era of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president.

"It is so annoying that the name has been changed. Where was he (late President Mills) when the place was being constructed? If I have been honored, you are telling me that because he Mills is dead, you are re-naming it after him," she told a local radio Thursday.

In a related development, the AMA has denied changing the name of the stadium.