Sammi Awuku, Isaac Adongo and Mahama Ayariga
The state of Ghana sports, particularly football took centre stage on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
Most MPs worried about the increasing rate of hooliganism in Ghana football, which led to the death of Francis Yaw Frimpong, a staunch Asante Kotoko fan known as Pooley.
Others claimed the siting of drinking spots with close proximity to stadiums and match centres is a contributory factor to the frequent chaos witnessed in local football.
Here are the comments MPs made during the discussion:
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga disclosed that Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams is negotiating with SuperSport to broadcast the Ghana Premier League.
Ayariga stated that efforts are underway to reform the league, including a potential broadcast deal with a major African sports network.
“The Minister of Sports has a major agenda to revive football at the district, regional, and national levels. He is engaging with the media to explore ways to promote sports.
“He informed me that he is negotiating with SuperSport and other broadcasters to cover our local leagues,” Ayariga said.
Sammi Awuku
Akuapem North MP Samuel Awuku urged sports minister Kofi Adams to review the presence of drinking spots near stadiums, citing their potential link to hooliganism.
Awuku highlighted how alcohol consumption before matches often leads to uncouth behavior.
“One of the issues that concerns me is the location of drinking spots near our stadiums. Fans are not allowed to bring alcohol into the stadium, but many consume it heavily before entering.
“When tensions rise during a game, their judgment is impaired, leading to potential misconduct. We must be intentional about what businesses operate around our venues,” Awuku suggested.
Professor Kingsley Nyarko
Kwadaso Constituency MP Professor Kingsley Nyarko bemoaned the rate of hooliganism in Ghana football, which led to Pooley’s demise.
Nyarko called on football authorities to ensure match venues are safe and secure.
“I am a Kotoko fan, and I can see that the man was a strong supporter of Kotoko. He went to support his team and did not come back, leaving behind a widow and his children. This shouldn’t happen again,” he commented.
Dickson Duah
Berekum West MP Dickson Duah called on the Ghana Football Association and the National Sports Authority to implement measures to prevent future incidents of hooliganism.
He urged the GFA to establish strategies to deter individuals prone to violent behavior.
“I urge the Ghana Football Association and the National Sports Authority to put in place stringent safety measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“This includes enhanced security at stadiums, strict enforcement of disciplinary actions against violent conduct, and intensified public education on sportsmanship,” Duah indicated.
Bolga Central MP Isaac Adongo implored Kofi Adams to ensure that safety protocols are enforced at match venues.
Adongo noted that the Ghana Premier League should not resume until safety protocols are in place.
“The information we have is that this young man [Pooley] was threatened prior to the match. The security agency should have known that what happened to the young man was bound to happen.
“I would like to call on you [Speaker of Parliament] to direct the sports minister to take this matter very seriously, and that if the GFA cannot follow rigorous protocols for licensing our football stadia, we should not be playing football as a country,” Adongo stated.
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