There should be a scientific approach to sports, Owusu Ansah

Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council, on Friday advocated for a "scientific approach" to the selection of sportsmen and women rather than relying only on skill acquisition.

He said while various scientific methods such as exercise physiology tests and measurements had been developed, employed and were being used to detect the inborn capabilities of people in some countries, Ghana was still basing her method of selection on skill acquisition. It was therefore not surprising that standards continued to fall and no objective reasons had been found as its causes, Dr Owusu Ansah said at a seminar organised for the press at the Accra Sports Stadium.

He said Ghana sports was in crisis and the once enviable position among the comity of sporting nations had been overtaken by rising tide of mediocrity. Dr Owusu Ansah expressed regret that as at now, no adequate steps had been taken to salvage the numerous problems militating against sports.

"Sports achievement is a combination of two factors, which are internal and external factors. While the internal factors are the inborn qualities inherited from parents, the external factors deal with coaching, equipment, training and nutrition, among other things."

Dr Owusu Ansah gave an instance in which a scientific method applied to former featherweight champion Azumah Nelson in 1984 to determine his preparedness for a WBC title fight contributed greatly to the boxer's success when the right recommendations was given after the tests were followed.

Asked why his rich knowledge was not reflecting positively on national athletes and players, Dr Owusu Ansah replied that even though a technical directorate was set up in 1991 at the Ghana Football Association where he could impart his knowledge together with other experts, the authorities involved at that time failed to recognise his efforts. He therefore stopped working with them.