Bissah wins Women Athlete of the Year award in US
GHANA’S golden girl, Martha Bissah on Monday night cart-wheeled into boundless joy after claiming the most prestigious Women’s Athlete of the Year award – for both track and field – at the Norfolk State University Awards in Virginia, USA.
The potential world champion was also decorated with the Most Valuable Player Award for Women’s Track and Field 2019 as well as Most Valuable Player Award – Women’s Cross Country 2019.
The 21-year-old hugely talented athlete was said to have punched the air in ecstasy after her coronation, promising to be motivated by the phenomenal honour done her to achieve more in the sport.
When reached at her Virginia base yesterday, Martha attributed her success to providence, stressing that “the Almighty God is the source of my strength in all the turbulent times I have been through.”
“By the grace of God, everything is going very well and I’m really happy for where he has brought me,” she said.
Bissah was granted a four-year full scholarship to pursue Business Administration at the Norfolk State University in 2016. Her scholarship was made possible by former Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) boss, Dr George Haldane-Lutterodt, with the support of another ex-national athlete, Kwaku Nimako.
Martha stunned the world by winning gold at the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjin, China. However, the victory rather triggered a protracted feud between the athlete and the present GAA administration under Prof. Francis Dodoo over a $10,000 gift which former President John Mahama had given to her.
As the athlete was contemplating an early ‘shower’ from the sport, Dr Lutterodt jumped in to salvage the situation.
Bissah was splashed with an indefinite suspension by the GAA for defiance and allegedly impugning some members of the Association’s executives with bribery after the 2015 All Africa Games – a tag she rejected, contending that she was a victim of circumstances.
The athlete has made a passionate appeal to the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, to intervene in the matter and have her ban lifted.
By John Vigah
