Hearts of Oak vs Nsawam Prison XI: The match that brought Nsawam to a standstill

Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, has shared some of his experiences from when he was at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.

Among the notable events he said he experienced there was a football match between Accra Hearts of Oak and the Nsawam Prison Eleven.

Per his narration on the KSM show, the game featured a star-studded Hearts of Oak side and inmates of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.

Dr Tamakloe recounted that news of the match drew large crowds of football enthusiasts from Nsawam and its environs to the prison's main gate, as they hoped to catch glimpses of the Hearts of Oak stars, including the highly talented Shamo Quaye.

"Hearts of Oak came to play a football match against Prison Eleven. The whole of Nsawam heard about it. It was Prison Eleven versus Hearts of Oak and Hearts came with their best players.

“When they came, I realized the team was made up of the small boys I recruited for the club. The likes of Shamo Quaye, Eben Dugbatey, Ablade Kumah, and others. I was watching them and was happy that they had developed so wonderfully.

“The people in Nsawam and its environs heard about it and came to the gate. They came in their numbers and kept knocking for the prison officers to allow them to watch the game. After the game, I addressed the players and offered them words of encouragement,” he recounted.

In the same interview, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe reflected on a historical anecdote, suggesting that mosquitoes played a role in preventing Ghana from adopting an apartheid system similar to South Africa's.

He explained that the mosquito-inflicted fatalities among the British who remained in Ghana post-independence prompted their departure.

"Ridge was akin to a European enclave, complete with its amenities. It was an exclusive area, and locals were often scrutinized, reminiscent of the apartheid era in South Africa. The English had envisioned a similar system for Ghana, but the prevalence of mosquitoes thwarted their plans," he elaborated.

Dr Tamakloe further noted, "Attempts by some to settle in the more temperate regions, like the Akuapem Mampong Hills and the Kwahu area, were also deterred by mosquitoes. In this way, mosquitoes inadvertently protected Ghana from the segregationist policies experienced in South Africa."

Watch his narrations from the 36th minute



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