Ghana Athletics Community Mourns With Former National Sprinter Eric Nkansah
The Ghana Athletics community deeply mourns with former national sprinter Eric Nkansah on the occasion of his father’s funeral yesterday in Konongo-Odumasi, Ashanti Region. Led by President Bawa Fuseini and accompanied by several executives, the Ghana Athletics team joined coaches and athletes from the Ashanti Region to pay tribute.
The Ghana Athletics contributed 400 GHC, athletes from the Ashanti Region also contributed 400 GHC, while Coaches from the Ashanti Region also contributed an amount of 1600 GHC. In total, a sum of 2,400 GHC was contributed to support the funeral arrangements.
Who is Eric Nkansah?
Background & Early Life
Eric Nkansah Appiah was born on 12 December 1974 and hails from Sunyani in the Bono Region of Ghana. Source: Modern Ghana
He began his track journey at local and school levels, representing Sunyani Technical School and later regional squads before being recruited into the Ghana Prisons Service athletics team. Source: Eric Nkansah Foundation
Sprinting Career & Highlights
Personal Best: Recorded a time of 10.00 seconds in the 100 m race in Nuremberg in June 1999. Source: Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias
National Record: A member of Ghana’s 4×100 m relay team that set the national record of 38.12 seconds at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, finishing fifth in the final. Source: Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias
International Participation
1996 Atlanta Olympics: Competed in both the 100 m (reaching semifinals) and relay events. Source: Olympic Database
2004 Athens Olympics: Ran the 100 m heat, placing sixth and failing to advance to Round 2; served as Ghana’s flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony. Source: Wikipedia
African Championships & All‑Africa Games: Won a bronze medal in the 100 m at the 2006 African Championships and a silver at the 2007 All‑Africa Games (10.35 s behind Nigeria’s Olusoji Fasuba). Source: Wikipedia
Legacy & Post‑Athletic Role
A vocal advocate for athletics development in Ghana, Nkansah urged authorities to support athletes beyond scholarships—enabling them to combine training and academics effectively.
After retirement (around age 33 in 2008), he earned a USATF Level 1 coaching certificate while based in Denver, USA, and has expressed a strong interest in coaching and mentorship. Source: Eric Nkansah Foundation
Eric Nkansah Summary
Born: 12 December 1974
Events: 100 m specialist, key member of Ghana’s record-breaking 4×100 m relay squad
Personal Best: 10.00 seconds
Major Appearances: 1996 & 2004 Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, African Championships, and All‑Africa Games
Medals: Bronze (2006 African Champs), Silver (2007 All‑Africa Games relay)
Advocacy: Champions athlete development and long-term support structures for Ghana’s track talent