The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) announced in June 2016 that it had placed an indefinite ban on Martha Bissah

 The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) announced in June 2016 that it had placed an indefinite ban on Martha Bissah, a young athlete, "for indiscipline and bringing the name of the association into disrepute." Last week, the GAA through its representative, Erasmus Kwaw, emphasized that the boycott was still set up and that the affiliation had not considered lifting it at any point in the near future, a position thought about by some as stressing and an endeavor to place the competitor's future in danger.

At the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, the youngster won the gold medal in the 800-meter race. He did so in a time of 2:04.90 minutes, which no other Ghanaian had ever done at the Olympics. This gave him some hope. It was the overall assumption that the GAA will help her expand upon this presentation and get the youthful previous Aduman Senior Secondary School graduate, great prepping in the game, for her to have the option to succeed at the senior level and in world sports.

Instead, things have taken a different turn, filled with disappointments and mutual suspicion, and her admission to Norfolk State University in the United States does not appear to be a solution because the GAA has maintained its harsh stance. Per the expression of the GAA representative, nothing has changed since the Chief Board on May 23, 2016, concluded that she had been suspended and accordingly prohibited from contending on GAA-authorized occasions, as well as addressing the country at any worldwide sports rivalry.

In point of fact, Erasmus Kwaw, the spokesperson for the GAA, called Martha's bluff with his unfortunate statement that the athlete could switch nationalities like any other athlete. The choice was, notwithstanding, the singular's choice (Story distributed on November 10, version of the Realistic Games).

Obviously, Mr Kwaw can stand to talk as he did in light of the fact that he knows that as of now, exchanging identity isn't feasible for any competitor since there is an IAAF restriction on that cycle which is going through an audit. Despite being accused of being disrespectful, refusing to honor an invitation, and bringing the association's name into disrepute, Martha's actual offense, which surprised many Ghanaians who loved athletics, has not been revealed as of yet.

In the case of Martha, it appears that the GAA has overstretched its rod against a youngster who may have erred out of sheer ignorance and needs to be guided onto the narrow path instead of any form of high-handedness that may not be in the best interest of the athlete or the nation as a whole. The GAA has the right to punish athletes who misconduct themselves or do anything that brings the sport into disrepute.

Martha deserves a pardon and a second chance to reform, allowing Ghana to benefit from her talent and exposure in the US, as Graphic Sports believes she is like other errant but talented sports stars. She may have done all of the things the GAA has accused her of. Is her crime so terrible that no one can ignore it? Or, if she wants the ban lifted, what steps must she take? Why is the GAA attempting to misjudge the situation?

Graphic Sports advises athletics administrators to be gentle with the child unless there is something else that is not in the public domain that the public is unaware of. This is especially true given that sanctions are meant to reform rather than destroy. It is endearing that the Service of Youth and Sports needs to mediate and have the issue settled and it is the assumption for the Realistic Games that the issue would be set out to assist with saving Martha's vocation.