Meet The Ghanaian Goalkeeper Who Has Spent 36 Years Behind Prison Walls

Before his football dreams could fully take shape, Akwasi Alhassan found himself facing a future far removed from the stadiums he had hoped to grace. The Ghanaian goalkeeper has spent 36 years in prison following a fatal confrontation with a friend when he was still a teenager.

Alhassan, who hails from Kwesimintsim, a suburb of Takoradi in the Western Region, was reportedly among the talented young goalkeepers attracting attention in Ghanaian football during the late 1980s. His abilities were said to have earned him consideration during preparations for Ghana’s first national Under-17 team in 1988.

However, an incident in 1989 changed the direction of his life. A fight with a friend ended in tragedy after Alhassan struck him with a key, leaving the victim with injuries that proved fatal.

In an interview with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai in 2025, Alhassan recounted the incident and its devastating outcome.

“When we had the fight, I had a key, and I used it on him. Unfortunately, he died when he was rushed to the hospital,” he said.

Alhassan spent four years on remand before being sentenced on March 19, 1993. He was convicted of murder and received the death penalty, bringing his football ambitions to an abrupt halt.

Despite the decades that have passed, former Ghanaian footballers who knew him have continued to remember his ability between the posts.

Former Black Stars striker Augustine Ahinful, who played alongside Alhassan during their younger years, described him as an exceptional goalkeeper.

“Alhassan was a very good goalkeeper. Extremely good,” Ahinful recalled.

Former Ghana international Yaw Preko also praised his talent, saying, “There was no goalkeeper in the country who could match him at the time.”

Their testimonies offer a glimpse into the promise Alhassan displayed before his imprisonment. Although it is impossible to know how far his career might have progressed, the memories shared by his former teammates suggest he possessed considerable potential.

His story returned to public attention following a visit by former Ghanaian footballers to Nsawam Medium Security Prison. The visit brought the sports figures into contact with inmates and members of the prison community.

Former Black Stars defender Samuel Osei Kuffour was among those present, offering words of encouragement to the inmates.

For Alhassan, the gathering provided an opportunity to reconnect with a football community he once hoped to represent professionally, highlighting a sporting dream overshadowed by a tragic event.

Source: https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Meet-Akwasi-Alhassan-The-Ghanaian-goalkeeper-who-has-been-in-prison-for-36-years-2056025

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