[ 2021-03-14 ]

Tribute: Henry Atta Ameyaw paid his dues to Hearts of Oak
Henry Atta Ameyaw of Barefeet and Prestige Agency
rose through the ranks from a supporter-benefactor
until he was strategically appointed Chairman of
the Welfare Sub-Committee in 1983 by the Seth
Abadji administration to help prosecute the agenda
of halting the systematic and freewheeling Asante
Kotoko side that was on course to set a record 4
consecutive League Championship in Ghana (1980,
81, 82, 83).
Hearts had then not won the Division One League
since 1979, and the venerable Dr J.E. Abbey had
indicated to the Board that he would step down as
Executive Chairman at the end of the 1982 season.
The H.P. Nyemitei Board, in line with tradition
and respect for public opinion, elevated Business
Executive Seth Abadji, Patron of Odorkor Chapter 6
and Chairman of Auroras, the nursery team of the
club, to the position.



To achieve this dream of restoring the club to
winning ways, Abadji put together a very sound and
solid management team which included stalwarts
like Francis Doe Johnny, Alhaji Awudu Iddrissu,
Elias Teye, Prof Rudolf Darko, Bob Mensah, J.P.B.
Kumi (Barclays), C.O. Lamptey (Stanchart), S.Q.
Barnor and A.S.A. Bekoe (Chief Directors of the
Ministries of Finance/Trade respectively). Others
were Dr O.G. Busia (representing Tertiary
Institutions) and E.G. Awuku (Chapters). HE Prof.
J.E.A. Mills was Special Advisor. Mst of
these/personalities rose to become Patrons and
Directors of the Club. Not only that, as the
club’s contribution to the human capital of
Ghana sports some, like their predecessors, became
leading officials of both the Ghana FA and the
National Sports Authority.

Working under this management were the various
sub-committees, and this was where Henry, as he
was simply called, did not only “mark time”,
but proved his worth as a potential chairman of
the club; great vision, excellent skills in
man-management, communication, coordination and
operations.

His committee with notable names like Kingsley
Adjei, Obed Huhuabo, Paul Kunke, Prince Cubagee,
Sylvester Mensah (who rose to become PLB Chair),
among others, were the interface between the
players and the management, and contributed
largely to Hearts regaining the League title in
1984 with an Emmanuel Botchwey 53rd minute
clincher in the decider against RTU in Accra on
October 17.





At an annual congregation to take stock of the
club’s splendid 1984 performance at the Baiden
Powell Memorial Hall in Accra, chairman Abadji, in
the course of his, speech stunned everybody with
an announcement that he would not be available for
an extension of his two-year tenure, and
proceeded, there and then, to hand in a letter to
the board chairman, H.P. Nyemitei. What an
anti-climax, and WHO TAKES OVER?

There were three vice chairmen in Abadji’s
cabinet. Surprisingly, all of them, and other
members declined. After sleepless nights and
amidst several consultations with the
stakeholders, including, the Council of Patrons,
Henry was appointed chairman of an Interim
Management Committee by the board ahead of other
candidates, to run the club, and prepare it for
Africa. At Age 34, he was the youngest ever, if
not one of the youngest Hearts of Oak chairmen.

Relative to modern days, Abramovich, Jose Bartomeu
and Florentino Perez would have been envious of
this young, handsome man with a tapestry of
tapered flamboyance, great understanding of
football, deep knowledge of the club’s
traditions, strong belief in the club’s value
system, and the humanity and humility that made
him open and consultative on club issues.

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Additionally, Henry maintained an excellent
relationship with the sporting media as well as
healthy rivalry with Kotoko’s officials, Antwi
Gyamfi inclusive. Combining the above with
experience, he took the stage by storm and
introduced a lot of initiatives that included
quality recruitment, a refresher course in Brazil
for Coach Adjei Pele, among many others.

Indeed, with his mantra “only the best was good
enough for Hearts”, almost all the entire squad
were either with the Black Stars or Meteors. This
led to the retention of the league in another
decider over Kotoko in Kumasi, courtesy Joe
Amoateng’s lone goal in Kumasi. In modern
sporting terminology “he provided an assist to
Abadji (1984) and scored a personal in (1985)”,
to join the highly envious class of the very few
Hearts Chairmen who ever won the League trophy,
even perhaps, in their very first year. Bofoakwa
was the only team that defeated Hearts that year.



Hearts of Oak since 1911 has been ran on gate fees
paid by supporters, football fans, and largely the
benevolence of a few individuals without counting
the cost, and irrespective of the status as
professional or amateur. It will continue to be so
to for a very long time. This position was what
Henry emphasised before the then Board when he had
the foresight to recommend the appointment of the
great Indian tycoon, Dino Moolchandani on to the
Council of Patrons, a rare privilege also enjoyed
subsequently by Korean Bok Nam Kim of Afko
Fisheries.

Accepting the above proposal, the minutes of the
Board meeting quoted Nana Asante Sekyi, Vice
(Board) Chair, as “Hearts was formed by
visionaries but belongs to everybody, indeed all
of us. Your recommendation is hereby accepted. Mr
Nyemitei would take up the matter with the Council
President, General Ankrah. Thank you”.

Henry impacted positively my life and that of many
others, who owe him a huge debt of gratitude. In
my formative stage as a budding football
administrator, I was so young to understand why
one day he took me to Antwi Gyamfi and I.K. Edusei
around Adabraka, and told them to accept and
protect me any time he mandated me to represent
him at some football meetings since he’s a
rather busy person. Now I know.

Henry, you played your part. Fate didn’t grant
you the honour and privilege to defend the league
trophy you won in 1985, yet you moved on in life.
Now may you plead with the Founders and
distinguished Phobians like H.P. Nyemitei, Gen.
Ankrah, J.K. Moffat, Nii Tetteh Kpeshi, Marc
Coffie (Togbe Gobo Dake), Harry Sawyer, G.W.
Amarteifio, Eddie Palmer, Nana Asante Sekyi, Bob
Mensah (your body-body), George Osekere, Nana
Wereko, Ampem, EG Awuku, Alhaji Hearts, S.K.
Ampadu, Francis Doe and HE Prof. (President)
J.E.A. Mills, and the host of other faithful
departed to keep interceding for their club
because it will still be a mighty and winning
team.

Henry, may your gentle soul rest in perfect
peace.

Source - Tribute by Ashford Tettey-Oku

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