Sports
GFA, police must bite harder
If there is a particular group of sports fans expected to learn bitter lessons from hooliganism associated with football, then that must certainly be Ghanaian football fans.
On May 9, 2001, Ghana was hit hardest by what has come to be known as the May 9 football disaster where a total of 126 football fans lost their lives on a chilling evening.
These fans had gone to the Accra Sports Stadium to watch Ghana’s version of the ‘el clasico’ involving Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
However, a referee’s decision that didn’t go well with a section of the fans sparked trouble at the Osu Cemetery end of the stands, resulting in police intervention which went in excess.
Eventually, that huge number of football fans with families and several responsibilities perished, leave that dent on the nation’s sports calendar which is observed every year with a wreath-laying ceremony.
Twenty-four years down the line, events on the football scene suggests that a section of football fans have learnt no lesson from the incident despite the many calls each year to nib that practice in the bud.
Fans continue to misbehave at match venues and take the law into their own hands by causing damage to properties.
Tomorrow is exactly a week when another infamous incident occurred at the Nsoatreman Stadium where the home team, Nsoatreman FC defeated Asante Kotoko by 1-0.
It did not come anywhere near the 2001 incident though, but happenings on the field that led to the death of a Kotoko fan was bad enough to plunge the football fraternity into a sombre mood.
Guided by that history, one would have expected the fans to exercise restraint irrespective of the provocation since there are sanctions to deal with offenders.
Eventually, a husband, father, uncle and many others was murdered in cold blood.
It brings to the fore the challenging circumstances under which football is played in Ghana with security being one of the major headaches.
Reports from some sections have revealed close to 150 police personnel were expected for the match but on the match day, the security presence was nothing to write home about.
And, apart from the Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast and Essipun Stadia in the Western region, there are no other facilities good enough to ensure a proper security arrangement.
Most of these venues are fenced with wire mesh which can cave in when fans go on a rampage or under the least pressure.
As if that is not enough, some of these security personnel watch unconcerned when some of these violent acts go on.
As a result, every life in the stadium is endangered when pandemonium breaks out. With such danger looming, football becomes unattractive to many.
Sadly, the FA’s Club Licensing Board have gone ahead to approve some of these venues to host matches.
And with some particular venues gaining notoriety for such incidents, perhaps, this should force the FA to crack the whip.
But since no sanction can be equated to the life lost, it was time the FA employ new mechanisms to make the league very safe for fans.
In Ethiopia and other countries, the leagues are played in a little over three safe and secured venues which practically served as home or away venues for the clubs; even if they are not the original venues.
What this requires is that on match days, games would be divided into two or three groups and shared to the number of venues available.
As is done in Ghana already, match day games can start on Fridays and end on Mondays. In this situation, there would be maximum security to forestall any fans trouble, seeing the numbers of personnel around.
It is surely one of the ways to curb hooliganism which is gradually making the game in Ghana very unattractive and unpopular.
Moreover, it is sad the FA has been hanged and crucified in this manner for a decision of a few football fans to misbehave to put the image of the game in opprobrium.
Being the organisers of the game, the FA cannot escape blame because some concerns about lack of adequate security at venues have not been attended to wholly, apart from the closure for a few days.
Football may be on an indefinite break for now but when it returns, the focus should be on the clubs without secured venues because there are always the trouble grounds.
For those to be identified in the entire brawl, this must be the time for the FA to prove that it has the teeth to bite.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Outstanding Premier League Matchday 20 Preview
The outstanding matchday 20 of the Premier League takes place across seven centres on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Here is a preview of Wednesday’s matches.
Young Apostles vs Asante Kotoko
Young Apostles welcome Asante Kotoko to the Wenchi Sports Stadium on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Apostles’ 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Accra Lions last Saturday was their seventh win in the league this season after 21 matches. They’ve secured 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in the last five outings, having scored 14 and conceded 20 in the process.
Young Apostles are currently occupying the 10th position in the league table with 27 points. They head into this fixture with an unbeaten record in their last five successive home league games (W3, D2) without conceding in four of those games. The Wenchi lads will be desperate to grab all the spoils over the Ghanaian giants on Wednesday.
League leaders Asante Kotoko came from behind to salvage a point in a very absorbing fixture at Samartex over the weekend. That victory has seen the Porcupine Warriors record the most wins in the league so far (11). They’ve amassed 38 points in 21 league matches, having scored the joint most goals (24) and conceded 14.
Prosper Nartey Ogum’s men are the third-best away performers in the league currently and will be desperate to secure all the spoils away from home on Wednesday when they trip to Young Apostles.
Young Apostles are playing Asante Kotoko at home in the league for the first time since the Wenchi lads gained promotion into the Premier League this season.
FC Samartex 1996 vs Medeama SC
FC Samartex 1996 will hope to continue their impressive form when they entertain Medeama SC at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Wednesday March 19, 2025.
The league champions are unbeaten in their last seven consecutive league matches (W2, D5), having scored 14 and conceded the second joint least goals (11).
They are currently 8th in the league table with 28 points. The Timber Giants come into this fixture as the sixth weakest home side after 11 matches at home. They will be keen to snatch the maximum points on Wednesday over a Medeama SC side they’ve never lost to at home in the league since 2022.
The Mauve and Yellow have slipped to the 7th position in the league table with 32 points, following two wins and three defeats in the last five outings.
They’ve scored the second most goals in the league (22) and conceded 19. Medeama SC head into this fixture with three successive defeats in their last five matches away from home and will aim for a decent result on Wednesday.
FC Samartex 1996 have played Medeama SC twice at home in the league since 2022/23 season with FC Samartex 1996 winning one and drawing one.
In the 2022/23 season, FC Samartex drew goalless with Medeama SC and won 1-0 in the 2023/24 season.
Bechem United vs Hearts of Oak
Bechem United entertain Hearts of Oak at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Ernest Danso’s men ended their two-game losing streak by defeating Premier League new boys Vision FC with two unanswered goals last time out (W2, D1, L2). The Hunters are currently 6th in the league table with 33 points, having scored the third joint most goals (21) and conceded 14. United are the best home performers in the league so far (W8, D2). They head into this fixture as the only team yet to concede at or suffer defeat at home this season. They will seek to continue their impressive home form on Wednesday.
Hearts of Oak’s seven-match unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end at the weekend as they were beaten 0-1 by Dreams FC at home soil (W2, D2, L1). They’ve amassed 36 points in 21 league matches, and are currently occupying the 4th position. They’ve scored 19 and conceded the least goals in the league (11). The Phobians are the second best away performers and will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways on Wednesday when they trip to Bechem.
Bechem United have played Hearts of Oak four times at home in the league sine 2020/21 season with the Hunters winning one, drawing one and losing two.
In the 2020/21 season, Bechem United lost 0-1 to Hearts of Oak, drawn 1-1 in the 2021/22 season, won 1-0 in the 2022/23 season and suffered a 2-3 defeat in the 2023/24 season.
Basake Holy Stars vs Gold Stars FC
Basake Holy Stars will aim to get back to winning ways when they welcome Gold Stars FC to the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena on Wednesday.
Hoy Stars are winless in their last five league matches (D3, L2), having scored the third joint most goals (21) and conceded the third joint most goals (22). They are 12th in the league table with 24 points.
The Aiyinase lads have conceded just a single goal in their last five home matches (W3, D2) and are among the top ten best home sides in the league currently. They will yearn for all the spoils on Wednesday.
Gold Stars FC remain in the second position in the league table with 37 points despite suffering 2-0 defeat at Aduana FC over the weekend (W2, D1, L2). They’ve scored 20 and conceded the second joint least goals (12) ahead of the clash. The Miners come into this fixture with three defeats in their last five matches away from home (W1, D1) and will be keen to secure victory on Wednesday.
Basake Holy Stars are playing Gold Stars FC at home in the league for the first time since the Aiyinase lads gained promotion in the Premier League this season.
Heart of Lions vs Dreams FC
Dreams FC travel to the Kpando Sports Stadium to battle Heart of Lions on Wednesday.
An impressive 1-0 victory at home against struggling Karela United last Sunday has seen Bashiru Hayford’s men record their tenth win in the league this season. They are currently 3rd in the league table with 37 points, having scored 20 and conceded the second joint least goals (12).
The Kpando lads are the second best home performers, they’ve suffered just a single defeat in their 11 home matches played this season (W8, D2, L1). They will seek to maintain their remarkable home form on Wednesday.
Dreams FC ended Heart of Oak’s seven-game unbeaten streak in a 1-0 victory away from home last time out. The Believers are currently 13th in the league table with 24 points after 21 rounds of matches. They’ve won 2, drawn 2 and suffered just single defeat in the last five outings, having scored the least goals (11) and conceded 16. Head Coach Abdul Karim Zito’s men head into this fixture as the eighth best away side and will aim for a rare outcome on Wednesday when they trip to Kpando.
Heart of Lions have played Dreams FC once at home in the league since the Kpando lads gained promotion back into the Premier League last season with the game ending in a 1-0 victory for Heart of Lions.
Nations FC vs Aduana FC
Nations FC entertain Aduana FC at the DR. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Nations FC’s form has been up and down, with two wins and three defeats in their last five league matches. Such inconsistency is hampering their chances of securing a place in the top four. They are 5th in the league table with 35 points, having scored the joint most goals (24) and conceded the third joint least goals (13). Kassim Mingle Ocansey’s men head into the game as the seventh weakest home performers in the league this season.
Aduana FC produced spirited performance to defeat Gold Stars FC (2-0) in their previous league fixture to continue their February-March impressive form (W2, D1) as they are yet to concede a goal in the league since February. They are currently 11th in the table with 25 points, having scored 16 and conceded 17. The Fire Club are among the top ten best away performers in the league this season, they will be eager to record victory away from home for the second time on Wednesday.
Nations FC have played Aduana FC once at home in the league since the Abrankese lads gained promotion into the top-flight last season with the game ending in a 2-1 victory for Nations FC.
Legon Cities vs Vision FC
Struggling Legon Cities welcome newly promoted side Vision FC to the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Ending a two-game losing run with a hard-fought 2-1 win at home to Berekum Chelsea, Legon Cities are now seeking consecutive league victories for the first time since January as they continue to vie to exit the drop zone.
The Royals are 16th in the league table with 20 points, having won 3 and suffered two defeats in the last five outings. They’ve scored 16 and conceded the most goals in the league this season (29). Cities have won their last three consecutive home fixtures ahead of the clash and are the ninth-best home performers.
Vision FC fell to their third defeat in their last five league matches last Sunday (W1, D1, L3), going down 2-0 at away to Bechem United and are just three points away from the bottom three in the table. They’ve amassed 23 points in 21 matches, having scored 16 and conceded second joint most goals (24).
The Tema-based is the fifth weakest away side (D2, L3) and will aim for a favourable result on Wednesday.
Legon Cities are playing Vision FC at home in the league for the first time since the Tema base gained promotion into the Premier League this season.
Sports
GFA congratulates Speaker Bagbin
A delegation from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially congratulated the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on his re-election as Speaker of the 9th Parliament.
This follows a visit led by the President of GFA, Kurt Okraku-Mantey, to convey his congratulations and discuss potential collaborations for the advancement of football in Ghana.
The delegation also presented a document titled “State of Ghana Football,” which outlines the current status of football in Ghana, its challenges, and proposed solutions.
In his remarks, the Rt. Hon. Speaker pledged his full support for football, affirming it as a promising venture deserving of investment and urging public backing.
He also encouraged the delegation to undertake regional tours to identify and nurture young talent.
Joining the Speaker to receive the delegation were the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga; the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin; the Chairman of the Sports Committee of Parliament, Ernest Norgbey; the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror; and officials of the Parliamentary Service.
