GFA president, Kurt Okraku and CID Boss, COP Lydia Yaa Donkor
The Football Association and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service have reaffirmed their commitment to working together to protect the integrity of Ghana football.
This was the central theme of discussions when President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaa Donkor, at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Monday, August 25, 2025.
The meeting, which comes ahead of the 2025/26 football season, focused on strengthening institutional cooperation to tackle three of the biggest threats facing the game, match manipulation, illegal betting and hooliganism.
In his remarks, President Okraku congratulated COP Donkor on her recent elevation as CID Director-General and lauded her contributions to football as Head of Safety and Security at the GFA. He stressed the vital role of the Police Service and particularly the CID, in ensuring a safe and transparent football ecosystem.
“As we prepare for a new season, we want to strengthen our relationship with the Police Service to fight the canker of match manipulation, clamp down on illegal betting activities and ensure that violence and hooliganism are rooted out of our game,” President Simeon-Okraku said.
He further assured the CID of the GFA’s readiness to deepen collaboration, not only to protect the integrity of competitions but also to create a safer matchday environment for players, officials and fans.
COP Lydia Donkor, in her response, commended the Football Association for proactively engaging the Police Service and reaffirmed the CID’s commitment to supporting the Association.
“We consider football a national treasure and an avenue for unity, development and pride. The Police Service, through the CID, will continue to stand with the GFA in addressing emerging challenges such as corruption in sports, violence at match venues and illegal betting practices,” COP Donkor stated.
The courtesy call forms part of the Football Association’s broader stakeholder engagement strategy as preparations intensify for the new season.
The 2025/26 Premier League is scheduled to kick off on Friday, September 12, 2025, with the GFA determined to ensure that the competition is played in a safe, credible and professionally managed environment.
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