Sports Council pay tribute to fallen colleague

Accra, July 15, GNA - The National Sports Council (NSC) has described the vacuum left behind after the death of Mr Sammy Ashie as difficult to fill, he was until his death the Deputy Chief Sports Development Officer.

A statement from the NSC said, "The sun has truly set in their mist and the Sports Development Officer's promotion division is indeed groping in the dark, searching to fill the huge gap that Ashie has left behind".

It said some of his qualities that would be missed solely are his dedication, discipline and commitment to duty and the ideals of the Council, which often made the impossible possible.

Ashie joined the NSC on November 1 1988, on probation as a cricket coach with a Physical Education Diploma from the Jordanhill College, Glasgow Scotland.

His other talents in education, administration and organisation quickly caught the attention of the Council and his appointment was quickly confirmed as a coach of the Council on September 3, 1990.

His hard work quickly earned him the position of Executive Secretary, now General Secretary at the Hockey, Cricket, Tennis, Amateur Boxing and Athletics Associations between 1988 and 1998.

Sammy Ashie's commitment to work earned him promotion to the grade of a Senior Sport Development Officer in October 1993 and was duly appointed the substantive Regional Sports Development Officer for the Greater Accra Region in the same year.

He held unto the position until 1995 when he was transferred to the Ghana Football Association as the first General Secretary of the Professional League Board (PLB).

Between 1998 and 2002, Ashie's sojourn in the realm of Ghana sports continued when he was appointed the Ashanti Regional Sports Development Officer leading to his final transfer to the NSC headquarters, Accra as the Acting Deputy Chief Sports Development Officer (Operations) until his untimely death.

The tribute added that, "The management and staff of the NSC doff their hats to you for your unflinching loyalty, hard work and dependable contribution to the entire family of the Council".

Mr Ashie would be buried on Friday, July 16 after memorial and thanksgiving service at the Peniel Presbyterian Church, Teshie.