In March 2024, Evans Cadman Yamoah, held the crowd spell-bound with a captivating performance to claim gold for Ghana in the men’s high jump event at the African Games event held in Accra.
Roared on by a proud partisan crowd, the 23-year old was the toast of fans, with the crowd responding with a cheer to every leap, on his way to a stunning gold medal.
At the time, the nation brimmed with enormous pride, and the Sports Minister, Mustapha Ussif, who handed him his shiny medal, described the moment as special.
Six months on however, Cadman Yamoah is facing expulsion for failure to pay tuition fees, which amounts to over $15,000.
Yamoah had been on scholarship since transferring from the University of Ghana to the University of Central Missouri in 2022. But because he already spent two years competing in the collegiate system in Ghana, his NCAA scholarship eligibility expired before he could complete the school.
Now in his final year, Cadman Yamoah’s scholarship has been taken from him and left to fend for himself.
Yamoah took up a job on campus as allowed, but that barely covers his boarding and feeding, with nothing left to pay for the tuition.
“I have tried a lot of options, but the feedback has not been good,” he told Joy Sports.
Some of the options he tried included writing officially to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to request for financial support.
“In the letter, I attached all the evidence as they requested I did, including my transcripts and fees portal information, but they never got back to me and have stopped responding to my messages.”
“I also wrote to other state agencies, but none has responded to my email.
Yamoah’s parents still live in Ghana, working as civil servants, and cannot afford to defray any of their son’s fees.
“The other day, I got called into accounts office and was told I have till December 15 to get the balance paid off since I’m getting out of school. If I fail to comply, I wouldn’t get my degree and the matter would be taken to a debt collection agency, which would not be good for me.’’
Now, Yamoah has resorted to using the media to appeal well-meaning Ghanaians or institutions to come to his aid.
“I am humbly asking for help from anyone who can help me, to please come to my aid to help me graduate. When I had the chance to represent the country, I did it with all my strength and my might.
“I gave my everything to bring smiles to the faces of Ghanaians by winning gold at the African Games.
“I am appealing to the President, the former President, private individuals and businesses, please help me graduate. I don’t want all my years of school to be wasted without my degree,” he appealed.
Joy Sports reached Ghana Athletics, the governing body for track and field in Ghana, and officials confirmed they are aware of Cadman Yamoah’s situation, and say they have been trying to get him help, because the office itself simply does not have the financial wherewithal to help him.
Credit: Joy Sports