Seldom do we have countries invest so much in sports, especially for women, but the few that took that daring initiative to devote their resources into infrastructure and personal development sports women have benefited enormously considering the laurels and prestige it has brought to themselves and their country.
Notable names like Marion Jones, Shirley Strickland, Shirley Ann-Frasier, the Williams’ sisters and Patty Berg to mention but a few, are women who have profited from huge investments by their countries to aid them attain their full potential in any sporting discipline they have participated in.
But such has not been the case for Ghanaian sports women as espoused by one of the nation’s leading female boxers—Yarkoh ‘Chavez’ Annan—who bemoaned the lack of support for women with the desire to build a career in sports to support themselves and also represent Ghana in international sports competitions.
Speaking in an interview with Today Sports, she said most of the young ladies in schools and those on the streets could be encouraged to participate in sporting activities like football, boxing and track and field events if the necessary infrastructure and investments are established and well regulated to enhance its growth.
Yarkor Chavez as she is widely known mentioned that some of the sports authorities and administrators do not possess the required vision to know that sports is all about preparation, personality and performance and applauded other African nationals from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt who made the continent proud.
Citing herself as an example, Yarkoh Chavez sadly explained that her failure to reach the pinnacle to join the most acclaimed women in boxing was due to the lack of support she received when she decided to become pugilist at a time when so many women were not interested in the sport.
Yarkoh Chavez, who has so far fought 18 times and lost eight, all outside Ghana, said the situation was even more frustrating when you are a female boxer without government support. She said despite the good form of her female colleague poxers, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) , the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and the various Embassies have on countless occasions denied them the requisite licences and visas to enable them earn money from their chosen profession.
She said the inability of the GBA and the Embassies to assist them has made them lose thousands of dollars that would have accrued to them in the pugilistic business as they often receive offers to fight abroad. Ayokor said the refusal of the GBA to licence them has also relegated their tasks to exhibition bouts and even though they thrill the fans with their good shows, they earn peanuts as compared to their male counterparts.
“We receive invitations to fight outside, just as our male counterparts but we lose the opportunity because we don’t have professional licences. It is unfortunate that many years after the Beijing Conference, women are still being discriminated against in sports and it is high time such selective practice was stopped,” she urged.
She however, pressed on the Akufo-Addo government to prove that they came for the needs of the people and they can change situations. She also commended the new Director General, Robert Sarfo Mensah, whom she commended for his role in trying to put Ghana sports on top.
She also commended former President, John Dramani Mahama, and the former Youth and Sports Minister, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuye, for overseeing the construction of the Bukom Boxing Arena and called for its perfect maintenance. She noted that the construction of the Arena and the astute administration of Lawyer Peter Zwennes have also brought some discipline into the game and urged them to carry on.
Yarkoh Chavez, who is currently pursuing a vocation in hairdressing, revealed that she has planned to fight for a few years before she enters into full time Gospel Ministry to become an evangelist.
Today Sports
…with Gottlieb Baako
