Here Comes A Committed SWAG Member
Our brother, K.Ebo Quansah, was a committed SWAG member. This is a well-known fact.
His selfless contribution to SWAG started in the early 1970s when he served as deputy secretary to Joe Aggrey during the long administration of Oheneba Charles, Ken Bediako and co. He is remembered for his trademark black briefcase containing SWAG documents and cash. Yes cash, because Ebo was entrusted with petty cash collected from latecomers at SWAG monthly general meetings.
He accounted faithfully to members joking at times he would even walk to meetings if he was broke and won’t take a cedi from the SWAG briefcase.
Ebo, the fearless sportswriter, was that straight-forward character and extremely affable.
When he returned from his sojourn in the UK he quickly renewed his membership of the now expanded SWAG and fully contributed to its progress.it was therefore no surprise when he was unanimously made President in 2002 taking over from Joe Aggrey who had been appointed Deputy Sports Minister by the J.A. Kufuor administration.
Enthusiastically, Ebo, who by his elevation had become the Fourth President of the SWAG, brought new vigour into the SWAG.
He was particularly in love with the SWAG flagship annual event. In 2003, for the first time, the Annual SWAG Awards Night was graced by the Head of State President J.A. Kufuor at the Banquet Hall State House.
It is pertinent to quote a small portion of what the usually outspoken Ebo Quansah told the gathering on that occasion.
He said: “We are particularly proud that the President has chosen the platform offered by the SWAG to relaunch Ghana sports. We are looking forward to the new direction and policy initiatives on sports promotion and development.
“For SWAG members, tonight’s event marks a watershed in our desire today to aid the forward march of sports in this country.It places a heavy burden on us to improve the way we do our professional duties.We have a duty to be well informed about what we put in public domain,” he added.
In his quest to maintain standards, the 2004 SWAG Awards night was held at Alisa Hotel in Accra to mark the official opening of the plush hotel owned by SWAG patron. the venerable Kwame Ofosu Bamfo, affectionately called Sikkens.
True to Ebo’s high standards, the
2005 SWAG Awards night was moved to the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi
under the distinguished patronage of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The programme was sponsored by One Touch of then Ghana Telecommunications.
After one of the most colourful events. in the history of the SWAG, Otumfuo invited the SWAG leadership and the patrons to Manhyia.
In 2006, the SWAG Awards held at the Trade Fair Site at La in Accra was billed as farewell package for the Black Stars ahead of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Vice President Aliu Mahama represented President Kufuor.
There is no doubt that the SWAG Awards ceremony was so dear to the heart of Kobina Ebo Quansah.
Not just the awards, but also the association itself and did all he could to ensure that it held its place in the national discourse, so far as sports was concerned. there is no doubt that Ebo Quansah will be solely missed at this year’s SWAG Awards night that marks the Golden Jubilee of this momentous occasion for Ghana sports.
After serving his term, he became a patron as the SWAG regulations says and given his institutional memory, consistently held leadership to account.
Recently, he has been in the forefront ensuring that the association was not shortchanged by its current tenant at the SWAG Club House.
Indeed, his last post on the patrons’ WhatsApp platform on June 4, read:
“Please, we have already met on site. The only outstanding issue is for us to meet as we have agreed, at Alisa and hear from the engineer and take a decision.
There is no need going to the site again.”
We all have a fair idea of what is happening there.”
This reaction was in response to a notice from the General Secretary and after a series of discussions.
He never took a back seat quietly, but would always come out to criticise, advise or share his opinion on issues that pertained to the association and sports in general.
He always pushed the association to have a befitting office that would be welcoming to our international fraternity and together with the other patrons, showed up to celebrate the inauguration of the association’s new office at the Accra Stadium.
On that day, he alongside the patrons and the founding members still alive, we’re honoured.
It was a moment of pride for him and never stopped talking about it.
- Ebo Quansah was known for his political stance and in his latter days as a journalist, worked more in that area.
Perhaps, it was only with SWAG that he remained very objective and fair.
The SWAG is saddened that at a time when it is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary for the organisation of the Awards Ceremony, it has lost one of its dynamic presidents, it has been a very difficult period because it is also mourning it’s fifth President, Ackah Erzuah Anthony, whose sad death preceded Ebo Quansah’s by a few days.
Ebo would often say that one person could not do it all, but it was important that one gets on the right side of posterity when presented with the chance to lead or serve.
Ebo will be missed for his fortrightness, his deep knowledge and his selflessness.
We will strive to.preserve his legacy of having an impactul SWAG and maintain the standards his leadership set in the organisation of the SWAG Awards.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
