Ghana Football Association appeal to Parliament to make amendment on schedules for Kotoko-Hearts games
GFA have made special appeal to Parliament to consider making amendments on Presidential Commission of Enquiry 18 year-report on May 9th disaster which could see Kotoko vs Hearts scheduled under the floodlight.
In May 2001, Ghana parliament through Presidential Commission of Enquiry – a committee that was set to investigate the country’s most tragic football disaster in , in what is called the “May 9th Disaster”- as part of their recommendation imposed restriction on schedule of matches between two most powerful Ghanaian football Clubs in Ghana Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
Close to 126 supporters at the then Accra Sports Stadium died following a persistent riot between football fans and the Ghana police force. After routine investigations, the Mr Sam Okudzeto led commission imposed ban on the GFA not to schedule a fixture involving Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak on Midweek and under floodlight of any day.
This imposition has existed for about 18 years now, but the new GFA Executive Council who assumed official duty two weeks ago have appeal to Ghana Parliament following the new administration’s courtesy call to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth Sports and Culture of Ghana’s big house on Thursday morning.
The new GFA President Mr. Kurt Okraku and his new administration have already threw their desirability to lift Ghana football to where it belong on Domestic, Continental and International front in air, and the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Prof. Mike Ocquaye on behalf of Ghana Parliament encouraged Okraku’s administration to work hard in achieving those ambitions.
But the GFA Executive Council led by the President believe the development of Ghana football in domestic scene is hampered by aspect of the 2001 Presidential Commission of Enquiry’s report (White Paper) as it has limited the GFA in the past in scheduling games between Kotoko and Hearts in the evening, as well as on mid-week.
The President thereafter appealed to Parliament through the Speaker of the house to make amendment in the report for the benefit of Ghana football. Their proposal may have not come for any other reason than the EXCO’s believe that there has been a vast positive advancement in supporters’ attitude, technology and infrastructure which Parliament should consider an amendment to pave the way for the GFA to move in line with contemporary way of scheduling games.
The Ghana Premier League starts next month and there is no certainty that the house would or not grant the kindest of consideration to GFA’s humble appeal.
