Tribute to Alhaji Jones Alhassan Abu by Akwasi Agyeman, Chair Division One League board

“Good afternoon Chairman, it’s the usual matchday blues you routinely face. There is trouble looming in Zone 1. Please call the MC in Sunyani to verify. I will be calling you for us to talk.”

“Up there is a screenshot of what I just sent to Prosper.”

“Watch this video of the scene at half-time for a match supposed to be played behind closed doors.”

The above are some of the routine messages I received last season from Alhaji Jones Alhassan Abu “the Prof” as we affectionately called him.

Such was his passion for football and the improvement of our game that he wouldn’t let an incident pass without comment or draw attention to anything that brought the game into disrepute.

I first heard the name Jones Abu Alhassan (he will always correct me that he was Jones Alhassan Abu) in the early 90’s on the GTV sports highlights show hosted by the legendary Kwabena Yeboah. Years later, our paths will cross when as Director of Business Development at Global Media Alliance, we started syndicating sponsorship for the FA under then-President Ben Koufie of blessed memory. Alhaji was a central figure in every meeting. Then, as in recent times, I marveled at his passion and depth of knowledge about football.

I had the privilege to work closely with him on the Division One league Board under the leadership of Mr. Acheampong Owoahene as Chairman and myself as Vice. I will attend our weekly meetings with my usual “kofi brokeman” for all members. One day he offered to host us to Dawadawa Jollof in his house at Maamobi. That began a special friendship between us with several invitations and offers for Dawadawa Jollof.

Last season, I had the privilege to sit on two committees with the Prof. - the Black Stars Management Committee and the Division One League Board. It felt as if he had all football regulations in his head. His humility, passion, and interest in developing our game are something that we will miss. He was the central pillar of our discussions as a committee and hardly missed a meeting. If he was absent, he will promptly call to find out what the decision points were and offer his opinion. He mixed with both young and old.

A few weeks ago, I met him at the FA car park, sitting in his car. “Chairman”, he called. “Uncle Jones, I replied - I am going to see GS. I will be right back.”

When I came back he was gone but I assumed we would meet again very soon.
When Sena called to announce his sudden departure, I was crestfallen. We had unfinished business, amongst others, the last dawadawa Jollof session, he had promised. But God knows best and I know that his name will be written in gold in the annals of football administration in Ghana. Uncle Jones, rest well and forever in perfect peace.