Tribute to Dr. Yaw Nkansa-Gyane by the GOC

Tribute by the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Prof. Francis Dodoo to the late GOC President Dr. Yaw Nkansa-Gyane who passed earlier this year:

My name is Francis Dodoo and I write this tribute on behalf of my colleagues at the GOC.

Dr. Yaw Nkansa-Gyane was an incredible ambassador for sports, not only nationally but also globally. A huge inspiration throughout for many sportsmen and women, and I know that first-hand having competed for Ghana under him.

He always showed unquestionable work ethic, a dedicated and avid enthusiast and the quintessential role model.

He embodied the true spirit of Olympism, in that he created a way of life based not just on winning, but on the joy of effort, and on the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.  The central tenet of the Olympic ideals is FAIRNESS, and Dr. Nkansa-Gyane lived that!

He epitomized the fundamental principle of placing sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.’

Dr. Nkansa-Gyane played a fundamental role in promoting sports, and the Olympic Movement, in Ghana and on the world stage.

He served as a Vice President of the International Amateur Boxing Association for a 12 year period (1974-1986) and became GOC President in 1985, a position he held until 1990.

He had the rare privilege of attending the Olympic Games five times including leading Team Ghana to the Los Angeles Games in 1984. That means he led me to my first Olympic Games in 1984, and I also had the privilege of captaining Ghana’s Olympic contingent under his tenure in 1988.

His contributions to amateur boxing were many and varied; he was a member of the International Association of Olympic Medical Officers from as far back as 1975; he became a qualified International Judge in boxing in 1978 and was elected Honorary Life Member of international boxing’s Medical Commission the same year.

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Dr. Nkansa-Gyane, a great sports icon who contributed immensely to Ghana, and to the Olympic Movement, the latter for at least a quarter of a century.

His contributions to the development of amateur boxing, to tennis and to the medical field cannot be overstated, and will be remembered for a long time.

Our hearts go out to his family, friends and the entire sports community as we have lost a great leader. To us at the GOC, we have not simply lost a predecessor. Our fraternity is not called the “Olympic Family” for no reason; ours are bonds that transcend space and time…and so in the parlance of the family tree, I have lost my great, great grand-father, and Peter has lost his grandfather.

We will continue the good work Dr. Nkansa-Gyane started.

Damirafa due! May his soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord!