Author: Victoria Kwofie
The 13th Annual Hockey Tournament in memory of the late President Professor John Evans Atta-Mills was more than just a competition — it was a moment to remember a man who gave so much to sports in Ghana.
President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Lawyer Richard Akpokavie, shared emotional memories of how Prof. Mills shaped his journey, both as a student and a hockey player.
“Prof. Mills was an amazing person. When it comes to sports, especially hockey, he was the real deal,” Akpokavie said.
He first met Prof. Mills at the University of Ghana, where Mills was the GUSA President. “I became Secretary General of Legon GUSA, and since we were both into hockey, we crossed paths a lot.”
Their connection grew stronger when Akpokavie was called up to the senior national hockey team. “In 1983, Ghana was going through tough times, but we had an African Cup of Nations coming up. Prof. Mills, who was head of the hockey association then, took us to camp at Legon to prepare.”
Then came the moment he’ll never forget.
“After training, he named the squad and just made me captain, right there. He made me captain in two minutes,” he said.
Looking around the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch, a place Prof. Mills helped build during his presidency in 2009 — Akpokavie made a passionate appeal.
“If we want to truly honour his memory in sports, we need to fix this pitch. Let’s change the turf, make it HIF certified, and renovate the hostel, stands, and VIP area. Then we can host big international tournaments here,” he said.
He added, “This would be the best way to keep his legacy alive. I really hope that by this time next year, we’ll be standing on a better pitch to celebrate him.”
The 13th edition of the tournament brought together players, fans, and sports leaders, all united by the lasting impact Prof. Mills had on hockey and sports development in Ghana.
