President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced the resumption of the Ghana premier league and Division One Football League.
Addressing the nation in his 17th address on COVID-19, he indicated that the domestic competitive football will resume on Friday, October 30, 2020.
However, the stadia during tournaments, will not be filled to capacity with routine tests for all the players, technical and management staff.
“With respect to football, after due consultations with the Ghana Football Association, it has been decided that the Ghana Premier League and the Division one football league will restart on Friday, 30th October, with a full regime of testing of the players, technical and management staff.
“No spectators will be allowed at the training centres and when actual competition resumes, seating at all stadia will be limited to twenty-five (25) capacity to ensure social distancing. Wearing of masks by spectators at stadia will be mandatory.”
In addition, “towards the progressive easing of restrictions, government has taken the decision to allow the resumption of training in all contact sports, taking into consideration the imminent participation of our national teams in international competitions. Indeed some national teams have already been given the dispensation to begin training, ahead of their international engagements. All sportspeople who are camped are to be tested regularly”
The President also made known that the resumption of other sporting activities are being considered.
“The restart of all other sporting competitions will be determined on a case-by-case basis, pending consultations between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the respective sports associations” he mentioned.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s address came after six juvenile footballers returning from a Colts Football registration exercise in the Ashanti Region died in a crash.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) on the back of the accident says it has suspended the ongoing registration.
The crash occurred when the vehicle which was carrying members of Africa Vision Academy lost control and fell into the Offin River killing six players.
Twenty victims were admitted to the St. Patrick Hospital at Offinso in the aftermath of the crash and four are reportedly in critical condition. Another six out of the twenty victims have been treated and discharged.
Relatives and parents of the victims as well as officials from the Ghana Football Association are visiting the hospitals to check the condition of the victims.
An Executive Committee Member of the Ghana Football Association, Frederick Acheampong told reporters the reason for the suspension of the ongoing registration.
“The programme is suspended now because they were undergoing the screening on a district basis. They are a lot of districts under the Ashanti Regional Football Association so that was a good decision to decentralize so some have gone to Obuasi and other places in order to do the vetting but because of what has happened, we’ve spoken to the Regional Football Association executives and they have suspended the exercise.”
The Ministry of Youth and Sports also expressed its condolences to the families of the six young footballers and assured that “appropriate measures will be taken to avert future occurrence.”
