The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and leading sports media source 3sports collaborated to host a one-day discussion to address the scourge of hooliganism in the country’s game.
The event took place on Tuesday at the executive theatre of TV3 Ghana with key sports stakeholders in attendamce.
The discussion saw key personalities brainstorming on how hooliganism which has been a long term of Ghana football can come to an immediate end.
During the discussion, GHALCA boss, Kudjoe Fianoo raised a point concerning fixing of CCTV cameras at league centres since it has been difficult to find perpetrators.
He said, “With insecurity these days, we rely a lot o CCTVs. I know the clubs are really under pressure financially but I think we should have CCTV cameras at our venues.”
Former CAF deputy general, Secretary Anthony Baffoe, who was present at the discussion also urged that one of the major things that can help is to educate and take lessons from what has happened in the past.
Mr. Baffoe also said, “Education is key, we are coming towards the end of the season, if the same thing is going to happen in the upcoming season, that means we haven’t learned”.
Karela United Chief Executive, Elloeny Amande, who was also present raised a point concerning sports policing being expensive.
Amande said, “it is expensive for football clubs to strengthen their policing at the stadiums during games. Security services are deployed at entertainment activities. Apart from the financial costs associated with having them there, it is a burden on already stretched police resources.”
Former Asante Kotoko CEO, Herbert Mensah also made known the role of the media in fighting hooliganism.
“The media has a huge role to play in educating and transforming that culture into something else, I strongly believe, and so if they can’t do that, then we have to go into other suggestions and show people we are not ready to tolerate that.”
ACP Kwasi Ofori also talked about developing our stadiums. He said, “Looking at Accra for instance where the worse disaster happened two years ago, we have seen a of improvement and coordination but looking at the discussion that we are having, most of the recent violence are outside Accra and I believe the licensing authority of the sports fraternity should look at stadia security very well.”
