Author: Victoria Kwofie
The Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch came alive on Saturday, July 26, 2025, as the 13th Annual Commemorative Hockey Tournament was held in honour of the late former President Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, a known hockey enthusiast and strong advocate for sports development in Ghana.
The event, hosted by the John Evans Atta-Mills Memorial Heritage in collaboration with the Veteran Hockey Club, brought together a mix of personalities including former ministers of state, ambassadors, veterans, the Director General of the National Sports Authority, family members, current players, and passionate hockey fans.
All participating teams wore blue and white tops — colours associated with the late president as a symbol of unity and remembrance. The day saw a series of friendly but competitive matches; Veterans took on a Selected Masters Side, University of Ghana played against Einstein Hockey Club in the youth division, Police Ladies battled the National Under-21 team in the women’s division, and the Security Services team clashed with the Financial Services side in the men’s division.
At the end of the tournament, all teams received commemorative plaques and tokens from the organizers.
Speaking at the event, GOC President Lawyer Richard Akpokavie shared emotional memories of Prof. Mills, highlighting his influence on both his sporting and academic journey; “Prof. Mills was an amazing person. When it comes to sports, especially hockey, he was the real deal,” Akpokavie said. “I remember in 1983, during preparations for the African Cup of Nations, he camped us at Legon. After training, he named the squad and just made me captain in two minutes. That moment changed my life.”
He added that to truly honor Mills’ memory, Ghana must upgrade the very pitch he helped build in 2009; “we must renovate the turf, make it HIF certified, and improve the hostel and stands. If we do that, we can host top international tournaments right here. That would be the best legacy for him.”
Also speaking at the event, President of the Ghana Hockey Association praised the late President Mills for always pushing student athletes to balance academics and sports; “I met him when I was just 19 and had been called to the junior national team,” he said. “Even though I was studying engineering at KNUST, Prof. Mills, a law professor, still encouraged me. He believed in doing well in both sports and academics.”
He also recalled how Prof. Mills helped him beyond the field; “he wrote my recommendation for further studies in Canada. I’m eternally grateful. He wasn’t just a sportsman; he was a nation builder who genuinely cared about people.”
The tournament once again reminded everyone that Prof. Mills’ love for sports and hockey.