Board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Vincent Sowah Odotei
Ghana Premier League giants, Accra Hearts of Oak, have reiterated their willingness to work with their rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, and the Ghana Football Association to introduce sweeping changes to the Ghana Premier League.
The club, through their board member, Vincent Sowah Odotei, believes that effective collaboration is crucial to addressing the challenges that have bedevilled the country’s flagship sports competition.
While Hearts are determined to see changes in the Ghana Premier League, they are unwilling to hold the FA to ransom by demanding the immediate implementation of their demands before they return to the field.
Vincent Sowah-Odotei stated in a radio interview that the club are working with Kotoko and the GFA to reform the Ghana Premier League.
However, Hearts of Oak will not boycott the league until their wishes and demands are met, as they have absolute belief in the President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku to address their issues.
“Let me commend the FA president for his forthright position on what needs to be done to reform our game. Let me make it very clear that Hearts of Oak are going to collaborate with Asante Kotoko and the GFA to make sure that we bring reforms to the game.
“Asante Kotoko have never told Hearts that they want to suspend the league indefinitely. When we met last week, we all agreed that the league could have started this weekend. If Kotoko have a problem with the FA, then they have to resolve it, but in terms of the general interest of the game, we are very resolute with Asante Kotoko for the long-term reforms of the game. We are going to work with the GFA on this matter. We have immediate and long-term changes, and the FA are prepared to work on it,” he said.
His comments come on the back of the declaration by Nana Apinkrah, the chairman of the Interim Management Committee of Asante Kotoko, that the club will not return to the pitch until their demands, which include justice for the murder of popular fan Francis Frimpong, alias Nana Pooley, are met.
“We will go to every length to ensure justice. All those who incited the fans against us, including Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, will be dealt with. The GFA should have by now instituted a probe, but they are sitting somewhere issuing fines,” he said.
Nana Apinkrah also expressed anger over the FA’s supposed lack of proactiveness on the matter.
“You [GFA] are only issuing fines, to the extent that you are fining people who were not even involved. It’s as if you don’t care,” Apinkrah told the Ghana FA in a meeting. “We are angry because it’s painful. It’s very painful.
“I was expecting that by this time, the GFA would have probed into the whole situation, including Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who incited the fans against us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has arrested some persons believed to be involved in the chaotic incident that led to the demise of the Asante Kotoko supporter.
Pooley was stabbed during Kotoko’s game against Nsoatreman on February 2, 2025.
Meanwhile, catch up on the latest Sports Check with weightlifter Marie Agbah-Hughes on GhanaWeb TV below:
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