Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has strongly criticised the “win-at-all-costs” mentality that he believes contributed to the latest outbreak of violence in the course of the Ghana Premier League match between Nsoatreman FC and Asante Kotoko.
In a candid interview on Metro TV, Adams questioned the underlying motivations for such behaviour and its detrimental affect on the league’s popularity.
What are you actually successful? What’s at stake? We’re struggling to safe sponsorship for the Ghana Premier League, and that is what we get. No model will need to affiliate itself with such negativity
The Sports activities and Recreation Minister additionally expressed grave considerations in regards to the state of stadium safety and emergency response programs, highlighting crucial lapses in the course of the incident. He questioned the professionalism of safety personnel and the absence of medical personnel to offer fast help.
The place was the ambulance? The place had been the medics? Have been they shut sufficient to supply specialised first assist? These are questions we should reply.
Whereas commending the police for his or her swift response, Mr. Adams burdened the pressing want for a complete assessment of stadium safety and soccer governance.
This incident requires a number of evaluations. We should improve safety, enhance intelligence gathering, and be certain that our emergency response measures are as much as customary.
Adams warned that with out fast and decisive reforms, Ghanaian soccer dangers shedding its attraction to each sponsors and followers.
Golf equipment hold complaining in regards to the lack of sponsorship, however how can we appeal to manufacturers when such incidents happen? We should work collectively to revive the integrity of our soccer
GFA takes motion towards misconduct
In response to the incident, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken swift disciplinary motion, suspending six Nsoatreman FC gamers—Stephen Diyou, Frank Dongballe, Abdul Rahaman Mohammed, Walid Neymar Fuseini, Mohammed Issaka, and Eric Osei Bonsu—for misconduct and unsporting behaviour in the course of the match.
The gamers have been charged underneath Part 12(1)(j) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, 2019, and have till Wednesday, February 5, to reply to the costs.
Police investigations and arrests
In a associated improvement, the Ghana Police Service has arrested former Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, together with two different people, Agyemang Duah Owusu and Kyeremeh Joseph, in reference to the violence.
A search of Owusu’s room reportedly uncovered two bloodstained clothes and an MP 23 pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition.
Additionally Elizabeth Akosua Ntiriwaa has been arrested this morning by the police to help in investigations.
Postponement of matchday 20 video games
In the meantime, the Ghana Soccer Affiliation has postponed all Matchday 20 fixtures as a part of measures to handle the fallout from the incident and to permit for an intensive assessment of safety protocols.
The latest occasions have underscored the urgent want for systemic reforms in Ghanaian soccer, with stakeholders calling for collaborative efforts to make sure the protection of followers, gamers, and officers, and to revive the league’s credibility.
