Celebrating the life of Rose Aba Hart, decorated Ghanaian athlete

Tributes will be read and hymns will be sung

Tears will be shed and smiles will be smiled

Many joyful memories will be exchanged about you

And with tearful eyes we watch you go

We can’t make you stay any longer

But to us you will always remain a hero

How proud we are to call you

Mummy, sister, aunt, cousin, grannie and friend

‘Cause fame and joy you brought us

Making the Hart name famous and a household name internationally

No wonder you were called “BA – Black Arrow”

In far away Senegal and crowned

An African Beauty in Athletics

Across the ocean in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics

All hail the Queen of Track and Field

Yea, no Ghanaian, nay African athlete

Ever has collected your countless

Gold, Silver and Bronze medals

At national and international meets

Not to talk of you as a double Olympian

Indeed Spartacus would be

Proud of your gargantuan unprecedented athletic feats

‘Cause with a three-month-old baby in your arms

You won for your nation Gold and Silver medals

At the Second All Africa Games in Lagos

What a feat!

With 29 gold, 8 silver and 2 bronze medals

Who is that official who on hearing of the

Demise of our dear Rose Hart

Unashamedly retorted “who is Rose Hart at all?”

So let the people ask “is it worth dying for one’s country?”

Recipient of the Grand Medal of Ghana

And Ordre National du Lion of Senegal

Inductee into the National Hall of Fame

First national female coach and recipient of countless awards

Who they tried to disgrace is now gone to her village

But the old soldier’s daughter refused to be disgraced!

Rose, fare thee well

Your detractors will now bow down their heads

Either in shame or confusion

The IAAF at least know your worth

You were God’s special gift to Ghana and Africa

Tribute by Royal Nsona Ebusua

RIP Rose Hart

1942 -2012