Let's protect Martha Bissah

I must confess to the confusion I've had to put up with since young Ghanaian Olympian, Martha Bissah, turned down a scholarship package offered her by the government.

Following Martha's gold-winning feat at the junior Olympics in China in 2014 – the first by a Ghanaian – we all felt proud as Ghanaians, not least the government. The decision, therefore, of President Mahama's government to facilitate academic pursuit for her in the United States was a gesture that gladdened many hearts.

Whatever might have informed Martha's decision to say no to this rare opportunity is something that can't be easily explained, although it was believed in some quarters that her original manager, Nii Odartey Lamptey, had a hand in it. The belief was that Martha accepting to study in the US was going to make it impossible for her to participate in international meets with prize money.

Honestly, I wondered whether the full implication of the decision was explained to the young athlete we are all proud of now. For instance, I asked myself over and over again whether the great opportunity for her to improve herself academically and harness her talent as an athlete ever crossed her mind.

Many world class athletes, including some from Jamaica, at one time or another, took advantage of such opportunities.

As if this wasn't worrying enough for us as a people, the next thing we heard was that Martha had parted ways with her manager and started a relationship with a new trainer. Quite clearly, it could be said that things have not been the same for the young lady in the midst of all this confusion.

It is very understandable that the executive board of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) is not happy at all about what is going on. As a matter of fact, the GAA is expected to meet Mikki Osei Berko, a broadcaster, Martha's supposed new manager, over “the way forward”, so to say.

It is very distressing that this is happening to such a talented athlete who, God willing, can do us proud as a country for a long time to come. We need to guard against all tendencies that can destroy Martha's brilliant career.

There have been instances of how so-called managers have destroyed the careers of very promising footballers. I pray that this doesn't happen to Martha.

One particular case I vividly recollect was how former Asante Kotoko star, Eric Bekoe, in spite of his determination to stay with the club for at least two more seasons, was stampeded into a decision to move to Egypt. 

At a meeting with the player at Golden Tulip Kumasi, he told me he was aware of the pressure to get him a club outside, but he was not in a rush to move to just any club. The next thing I heard was that Bekoe was on his way to Egypt.

From what unfolded about Bekoe later, it was obvious if he had played a season or two more in the local league, he could have landed a more lucrative and secure contract elsewhere.

The GAA should do whatever it is possible within its authority to ensure that Martha doesn't become a victim of circumstances beyond her control that can lead to the early ending of her career.