By: Bernard Nyankomago Yeboah

Date: 13-05-11

Chairman of the Premier League Board (PLB), Welbeck Abra- Appiah, has suggested that there should be more administrative and instant punishment in our game to help prevent hooliganism and retaliation in the various league centres.

According to him, some of the disciplinary procedures which are being employed by the GFA are too cumbersome and must be reduced to the situation where cases can be dealt with instantly.  

“Instant decisions in football matters helps to prevent retaliation and brings out fairness,” he said.

“It is sometimes disheartening to see that after a supporter or club official has involved him or herself in violence, the case will be referred to the GFA Disciplinary Committee and later on to Appeal or Review Committee instead of dealing with him or her instantly”.

“I think it does not help to a large extent. So I urge the GFA to start applying the administrative decision or instant punishment on people so as to curb the rate of hooliganism at our various stadia” he suggested.

 The PLB boss was addressing a symposium organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) at the British Council Hall in Accra to commemorate the 10^th Anniversary of the May 9 2001 Accra Stadium Disaster.

The occasion which was under the theme “Never Again” brought together stakeholders of Ghana Football to deliberate on how to avoid hooliganism at our league centres.

Abra- Appiah advised sports writers, commentators and broadcasters to be circumspect in their reportage adding that they should always desist from comments that can incite the public or supporters to misbehave.

He therefore appealed to the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) to bring all the sports media together and offer them the necessary education on their reportage all the time.

While he entreated the referees to be fair and firm in their decisions during matches, he also advised both officials and supporters of the various clubs to acquaint themselves with the rules and regulations governing the game and stop threatening and challenging referees’ decisions all the time to avoid confusion at stadium.

“There is always confusion at our league centres because most of our club officials and supporters are ignorant about the rules governing the game. I want everybody to get a copy of GFA rules and regulations and study to understand them well”

“I also want club officials and supporters to always have at the back of their minds that there are only three results in football; win, draw or loss. No matter what happens a team will definitely meet any of these results in either a competitive or friendly match. When it comes they must try and accept in good faith and stop apportioning blames,” he emphasized.

He pleaded with the government to see to it that there are improved conditions at the various stadia to make life more comfortable for supporters who throng there to watch football matches. He cited quality pitches, seats, among others as some of the things that the government must focus on to help the development of the game.

In his brief remarks, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the May 9 Stadium Disaster Management Fund, Mr. J.S Addo said that the Fund has been effective since its establishment by the government. He added that it has been funding the education and others needs of the 138 children left behind by the victims of the tragedy.

He advised soccer loving Ghanaian to always remember the theme “Never Again” and demonstrate good behaviour at the stadium to avoid the occurrence of such stampede in the country adding that football is a tool used to foster peace and unity aside the joy and excitement it brings to people.

Mr. Gyimah Boakye, Security Coordinator of the National Sports Authority announced that NSA is making arrangement with the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to provide advance tickets for all league matches that will be played in the country in the upcoming 2011/12 football season.

The idea behind this according to him is to avoid ticket racketeering, overcrowding and queues that normally emerge during match days at the various stadia.

Faris Attrickie, Chief Manager and Special Assistant to the Managing Director of SIC Insurance Company Limited assured of their commitment towards the development of sports, particularly football in the country as they turn 50 next year. He entreated coaches, players, supporters and club officials in the country to make it a policy of insuring themselves with SIC since there are great risks in the game of football.

“The SIC Insurance Company Limited has shown so much interest in the development of Sports in the country since the last 26 years. We have been sponsoring activities of SWAG and other sports bodies in the country”

“As we turn 50 years in 2012, we want to assure that we will offer our best not only to help reduce violence in the country but also facilitate the progress of the game” he noted.

Among some of the dignitaries present at the function were Nana Yaw Mantey, Head of Corporate Affairs of SIC, Charles Aryeh, Director of Sports Development of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Smart Abbey, Safety Officer of the NSA, Ampem Darko, Deputy General Secretary of the GFA, Kwame Baah Nuako, the FA and International Relation Officer of Kotoko among others.

The various supporters groups comprising the Millennium Supporters Union of Ghana (MISUGHA), All For One Supporters Union (ALFOSU), Die Hard Supporters Union and others were also present at the occasion. The Chapter “O” of Hearts of Oak fame thrilled the occasion with their “jama” songs.  

The supporters and officials of both Kotoko and Hearts will embark on procession in some principal streets in Accra on Saturday.

 Afterwards there will be a ceremonial match between Kotoko and Hearts at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to commemorate the 10^th Anniversary of the May 9 disaster Kick off is at 3pm.