Baba Yara sustained a spinal injury in a motor accident at Kpeve in the Volta region on March 4, 1963. Yara’s team, Nkrumah’s Real Republicans were returning to Accra after a league Match against Volta Heroes at Kpandu when the accident happened.

He was flown to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the United Kingdom for treatment for a period of 3 months but the young soccer hero only returned in a wheelchair.

For 6 years, Baba Yara was bedridden and eventually died after a very quiet life in a wheelchair. Yara died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on 5th May 1969 at age 33.

Baba Yara scored 2 goals and made 4 assists for his Black stars debut in a game against Nigeria which ended 7-0 against Nigeria in 1955. He played for the Black stars of Ghana 51 times and scored 49 goals. He also won a lot of trophies with Asante Kotoko.
Yara’s football career was cut short tragically in his prime at the age of just 26. Kumasi Sports Stadium was named after Baba Yara on April 12, 2005 for his exceptional talents and immense contribution to Ghana Football.
RIP ‘KING OF WINGERS’!