Feature: Ghana Premier League Hooliganism: We must save the game before lose it

My perspective as a Ghana Premier League fanatic. I have been a Ghana Premier League fan for many years.

Like thousands of Ghanaians, I have celebrated the goals, suffered the defeats, argued over refereeing decisions, and experienced the unique emotions that come with supporting a club. Association Football is passion, it is rivalry, and it is emotion, but football must never become violence.

The recent incidents of hooliganism associated with our domestic game should force every stakeholder to pause and ask a difficult question: What kind of football are we building for the next generation? We cannot continue to treat violence at our match centers as an unfortunate part of the game.

When supporters attack one another, when players and officials are threatened, when property is destroyed and, most tragically, when lives are lost, we have moved beyond football rivalry. We have entered the territory of public safety and national security.

The death of Asante Kotoko supporter Francis Yaw Frimpong, popularly known as Nana Pooley, during the Nsoatreman-Kotoko league encounter in February 2025 remains one of the most painful reminders of where unchecked football violence can lead. Parliament subsequently discussed the incident as part of growing concerns over hooliganism and violence at Ghanaian sporting events.

That needless tragedy should have been a turning point, but sadly and predictably, the conversation about hooliganism continues. There is nothing wrong with supporting Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, Aduana, Medeama, Samartex, Karela or any other club in the GPL with passion.

In fact, passionate supporters are one of the biggest assets of any association football club globally. The singing, drumming, chanting, flags, jerseys, and healthy banter are what make matchday special at all centres.

But there must be a line: your club is not your enemy, the opposing supporter is not your enemy, indeed, the referee is not your enemy. The player wearing another club's colours is not your enemy either.

At the end of 90 minutes, it is still football. We must therefore create a culture where rivalry ends when the final whistle goes.