South African Cricket Tour Of Britain And 1970 Commonwealth Games

July 3, 2026

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National Union of Ghana Students

May 19, 1970

National Headquarters, 
Commonwealth Hall, 
University of Ghana, 
Legon.

The NUGS views the projected tour of the ALL-WHITE South African Cricket Team of Britain next July with much concern. This tour constitutes not only a gross affront to the integrity of the Commonwealth, but also another flagrant defiance of the U.N. Resolutions on Apartheid and all forms of racial discrimination. 

It is indeed very disheartening that Britain, the mother of the Commonwealth, an association which seeks to promote racial harmony amongst men regardless of race, colour or creed, should play host to a country where apartheid and racism have been institutionalised and where the mere pigmentation of one’s skin forms the basis of inequality and degradation. Even more shocking is the British government’s seemingly blatant indifference to the political nature of the tour. 

In Rhodesia, Britain has been a sell-out. The tour of the all-white cricket team is therefore an extension of British hypocritical attitudes in Southern Africa. The British government’s persistent refusal to heed the calls by Commonwealth countries and other peace-loving nations not to grant visas to the apartheid team is a clear manifestation of Britain’s inept attitude of placing the interests of the notorious regime of South Africa above those of tho Commonwealth. 

The NUGS, in concert with the entire members of the ASSOCIATION QF COMMONWEALTH STUDENTS shall never compromise on any stand which falls short of complete ostracism of racist South Africa politically, socially and economically. For, one cannot openly condemn apartheid on paper and hypocritically flirt with it. 

Games and Sports speak a universal moral language 1 togetherness. But this is alien to South Africa. No wonder, then, that many Commonwealth Countries have decided to boycott the projected Commonwealth games in Edinburgh because of this tour. It will be a sad commentary for the Commonwealth to perhaps disintegrate as a result of this sense- less tour and it will be even more sad if South Africa should be the cause of this a situation she does not deserve to create. 

The NUGS is calling on the Government of Ghana in consonance with its declared policy on apartheid to boycott the Edinburgh Games should the British Government refuse to come out unequivocally that it will not grant visas to the South African all-white Cricket Team. 

P. ADU-GYAMFI 

NATIONAL PRESIDENT. 
(19th May, 1970) 

DISTRIBUTION: Hon. Minister of External Affairs. 
Hon. Minister of Education, Culture & Sports. 
All Commonwealth Ambassadors in Ghana. 
All Commonwealth Student Unions. 
The Ghana News Agency. 
All National Dailies & Weeklies. 
The Ghana National Youth Council. 
The Chairman, Council for Higher Education.

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