Former Asante Kotoko chairman and current Rugby Africa President, Herbert Mensah, has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to back its words with real action in the fight against hooliganism in the local game.
The issue of crowd violence continues to cast a dark shadow over Ghanaian football, with recent seasons marred by incidents that have not only disrupted matches but also cost lives — including a fatal incident ; Nana Pooley
In excerpts from the upcoming Joy Sports documentary Scars of Hooliganism*, Mensah did not mince words in his assessment of the GFA’s approach to dealing with the problem.
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) themselves have got to stop talking so much and do more,” he said.
Mensah urged football authorities to adopt internationally proven systems and sanctions to address violent behaviour from fans, pointing to practices in Europe and elsewhere that have proven effective.
“[The FA should] put in the same measures that have been put in around the world.
“The clubs have a sense of responsibility – they have to. You see abroad where people receive life bans. There are cameras in place to pick things up,” he added.
For Mensah, stamping out hooliganism requires both will and structure ; from holding clubs accountable to installing surveillance and enforcing meaningful penalties.
His comments come at a time when calls for reform have grown louder, with many stakeholders demanding a zero-tolerance approach to violence if the credibility and safety of Ghana’s leagues are to be preserved.
