University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh THE USE OF SPORTS AS A TOOL FOR DIPLOMACY: THE CASE OF GHANA SINCE INDEPENDENCE BY COLLINS MENSAH (10152719) THIS DISSERTATION IS SUBMITED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LEGON JULY 2016 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, Collins Mensah, hereby declare that this dissertation is entirely my work under the guidance of my supervisor, Dr. Boni Yao Gebe, and except for references to other research works, publications and journals which have been duly acknowledged, this study has never been presented in part or whole for the award of any degree elsewhere. ………………………………………… ………………………………….. COLLINS MENSAH DATE (10152719) ……………………………………….. ………………………………….. DR. BONI YAO GEBE DATE (SUPERVISOR) i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This study is dedicated to my entire family and to everyone who contributed towards its successful completion. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of all, I thank the Almighty God sincerely for guiding me through this study successfully. I am also extremely grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Boni Yao Gebe, for his commitment, guidance and encouragement towards the completion of this work. Equally, I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Ambassador Kwabena Baah Duodu and Mrs. Hannah Nyarko of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, whose advice and suggestions helped me tremendously throughout this study. My appreciation also extends to my colleagues: Bernard Acquah, Louis Dunu, Khalilah Hackman, Samuel Sevor, Ivy Suglo, Hanaan Asaku, and Arthur Mills for their various contributions and encouragement. I am profoundly grateful to all of you. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................ i DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENT iv ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. vi CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Research Problem ......................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem ............................................................................ 2 1.3 Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Objectives of the Research .......................................................................................... 3 1.5 Scope of the Study ...................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Rationale of the Research ........................................................................................... 4 1.7 Hypothesis ................................................................................................................... 4 1.8 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................... 5 1.9 Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 7 1.10 Sources of Data ........................................................................................................... 7 1.11 Research Methodology ............................................................................................. 21 1.12 Arrangement of Chapters .......................................................................................... 21 References ................................................................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................................... 24 GHANA’S STATUS IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ......................................................... 24 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 24 2.2 The role of Government in Sports Development ...................................................... 24 2.2.1 Ghana’s Status in International Sports ............................................................... 30 2.2.2 Ghana’s Place in World Boxing ........................................................................ 30 2.2.3 Ghana’s Place in World Football ....................................................................... 33 2.2.4 Ghana’s Place in World Athletics ...................................................................... 37 2.4 Ghana at the Olympics .............................................................................................. 40 2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 41 References ................................................................................................................................ 42 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 44 GHANA’S FOREIGN POLICY AND THE ROLE OF SPORTS IN THE COUNTRY’S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS ....................................................................................................... 44 iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 44 3.2 Ghana’s Foreign Policy ............................................................................................. 44 3.3 Achieving Pan-Africanism, Creating an African Identity and Eliminating racism through Sports ...................................................................................................................... 48 3.3.1 The Black Stars as Ambassadors for Promoting an African Identity ................ 50 3.3.2 Proving that the African can manage his own Affairs through Sports .............. 52 3.4 Participating in International Sports to Boost Ghana’s Image .................................. 55 3.5 Boycotting International Sporting Events to achieve Foreign Policy Goals............. 59 3.6 Boycotting the FIFA World Cup to Demand Fair Treatment ................................... 62 3.5 Sports and Ghana’s Economic Relations .................................................................. 64 3.6 Hosting International Sporting Events ...................................................................... 69 3.7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 70 References ................................................................................................................................ 72 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................... 76 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................. 76 4.1 Summary of Findings ................................................................................................ 76 4.3 Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 80 4.2 Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 81 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................... 81 APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................... 92 v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT It is often argued that sports and politics should not be mixed. International sporting organizations share this view in some respects, and based on it, Ghana and other countries across the world have been banned on some occasions by organizations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on charges of state interference in the affairs of their national sporting associations. Several studies have, however, traced a relationship between politics and sports, with states using sporting activities in some instances to pursue their interests in international politics. Scholars such as Stuart Murray refer to this as sports diplomacy. This study considers how Ghana has practiced sports diplomacy. The objectives of the study are to analyse the potential and actual role sports plays in the pursuit of Ghana’s foreign policy goals, find out whether and how Ghanaian governments have deliberately used sports in this direction and assess how Ghana’s participation in international sporting competitions has contributed to foreign public knowledge, opinion and perception about the country. Ghana