By The management of Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak SC, two of Ghana’s most successful football clubs, have submitted a proposal to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) outlining key reforms to improve the state of the Ghana Premier League. In their proposal, the clubs expressed deep concerns about the current state of the league and emphasized the need for immediate interventions, particularly in the areas of security and club licensing regulations.
They urged the GFA to take full control of security arrangements at league centers to ensure the safety of individuals and property. As part of their recommendations, they called for the full implementation of the Gbadegbe Commission report and the deployment of at least 100 police personnel for Category A and B matches.
Additionally, they suggested that at least 20 military officers be assigned to Category A matches and some high-risk Category B matches. The clubs also recommended that security personnel should be sourced from different regions rather than the locality of the match venue, and that security cameras be installed at all league centers.
Other security-related proposals included conducting a new risk assessment to properly categorize matches and relocating games from venues that do not meet the necessary safety standards.
The Club Licensing Department was urged to establish new minimum standards for Premier League match venues. Beyond security measures, Kotoko and Hearts of Oak proposed that the league should become autonomous and be managed independently. They also urged the GFA to seek exemptions from Value Added Tax (VAT) and other deductions on match proceeds.
Furthermore, the clubs requested transparency in television rights deals, stating that the GFA should disclose the number of their matches to be televised before the season begins. They argued that this would allow for a fair distribution of sponsorship and TV rights revenue.
In their final demand, both clubs called for automatic representation on the GFA Executive Committee, asserting their status as key stakeholders in Ghanaian football. The proposal comes amid the stabbing of famous Asante Kotoko fan “Nana Pooley” at Nsoatre and growing concerns over the governance and competitiveness of the Ghana Premier League.
