Ghana’s All-African Games gold medalist, Evans Cadman Yamoah, faces possible expulsion from his university in the United States due to unpaid tuition fees totalling $15,000.
Yamoah, a high jump athlete, found himself in this predicament after his scholarship at the University of Central Missouri was revoked by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
According to Yamoah, the NCAA cancelled his scholarship because he has exceeded the maximum allowable years in college.
In an interview with Joy Sports, Yamoah explained that he graduated from the University of Ghana in 2022 before transferring to the US.
He initially applied for a master’s program, but due to transcript evaluation issues, he was required to complete undergraduate courses before transitioning to a master’s.
“I graduated from the University of Ghana in 2022, and my coach reached out to have me compete for the team. Initially, I applied for a master’s program, but after review, the school informed me my transcript would not apply, so I had to do one year for undergrad before rolling over to a master’s program.”
Yamoah revealed that after one semester, inconsistencies in his transcript prompted the NCAA to revoke his eligibility.
“The two years I’ve spent here, combined with the four years in Ghana, makes it six years. They counted this as six years of education, so I lost my eligibility,” he said.
Yamoah has made extensive efforts to raise funds for his final semester but without success.
He wrote to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other state agencies but has not received any responses.
He shared that he has until December 15 to pay off the tuition balance or risk being expelled.
“If I don’t comply, I won’t get my degree, and the matter will be sent to a debt collection agency, which would have serious consequences for me.”
In a heartfelt plea, Yamoah appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President John Dramani Mahama, and all Ghanaians for support.
“I am humbly asking for help from anyone who can assist me. I represented my country with pride and strength, and I don’t want all my years of education to go to waste without a degree.”
Evans Cadman Yamoah is in his final semester at the University of Central Missouri and is close to completing his studies. He won the gold medal in high jump at the 2023 African Games, making him the second Ghanaian athlete, after Rose Yeboah, to secure gold in the high jump event.
EE/OGB
