The 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia was Ghana’s worst performance since independence in 1957. The traditional contingent of boxers and athletes returned home with no medals.

The athletics contingent was made up of Sam Aidoo, Awudu Nuhu, Ernest Obeng, William Hammond(sprints); John Akutey, Abu Alhassan, Edward Pappoe, Iddrisu Adam(400m), Issa Stalin(long jump), Francis Dodoo(triple Jump).

The women athletes were Mary Mensah, Grace Armah, Georgina Aidoo and Mercy Addy, all sprinters.

The officials were Sam Nelson, chef de mission, Adjin Tetteh, general team manager, Alhassan Brimah, chairman GABA, Kofi Aryeetey, athletics coach; Rose Hart, coach/chaperon; F.A.Moses, boxing coach, Dr Yaw Adjepong, team doctor.

The boxers were flyweight Nana Yaw Konadu; bantamweight Amon Neequaye; featherweight Sam Amarteifio; light welterweight Tony Bawa; welterweight Amarboye and light-heavyweight Taju Kay. They were all beaten quite early.

In athletics, the men’s sprints quartet of Ernest Obeng, William Hammond, Awudu Nuhu and Edward Pappoe placed 6th in the final with a time of 40.52secs. Nigeria won the event in a record time of 39.15 secs.

The 4x400m relay quartet of John Barnor Akutey, William Hammond, Awudu Nuhu and Edward Pappoe placed 7th in the final in 3 min 14.31 secs.

The women’s sprints quartet of Grace Armah, Mercy Addy, Georgina Aidoo and Mary Mensah also placed 7th in the final in 45 min 93 secs.

GHANA AT EDINBURGH 1986 GAMES
Ghana joined a number of African countries to boycott the Edinburgh Games because of Britain’s sporting links with apartheid South Africa.