Sports Minister to GFA: Punish All Involved in Match V!olence

Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, is calling for tougher penalties to deal with growing incidents of stadium violence, following a chaotic match in the Ghana Premier League that shocked fans across the country.

The incident happened during Matchday 33 of the 2024/25 league season between Basake Holy Stars and Nations FC at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena.

The match, crucial in the race for the league title, ended in disarray after tensions boiled over on the pitch.

Trouble started when the referee awarded a second penalty to the home team, Basake Holy Stars.

This decision sparked outrage from Nations FC players and officials, leading to a pitch invasion and total disruption of the game. According to Nations FC, the situation quickly turned violent.

“Our club chairman, Dr. Kyei, and club president, Mr. Divine Kyei Boadu, were assaulted,” Nations FC alleged in an official statement. “The environment became hostile and unsafe for our players and technical team.”

With tensions running high, the match was eventually abandoned—a rare but deeply concerning outcome.

Speaking to Sporty FM, Minister Kofi Adams condemned the incident and called for swift and firm punishment for anyone found responsible.

“People must be punished when they are found to be doing something wrong, irrespective of their status or political affiliation,” he emphasized.

Adams warned that a failure to act could have long-term consequences for local football, with fans increasingly turning their attention to international leagues instead of supporting domestic games.

“If we allow such things to continue, 90 per cent of football-loving fans will focus on foreign leagues rather than our own,” he warned.

Despite the seriousness of the events, no sanctions have yet been announced—even two days after the incident. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has, however, acknowledged the disturbance and said investigations are ongoing.

Many fans and stakeholders are now pressing the GFA to take swift disciplinary action to uphold the integrity of the sport and restore public trust.

Minister Adams’s call for action reflects a growing concern about the deteriorating atmosphere at football venues, and the need to protect the safety of players, officials, and fans alike.

As the country awaits the outcome of the investigation, the message from the Sports Ministry is clear: violence in football will no longer be tolerated.