Posted by After a long wait, the ban on football by the government has been lifted.
Football in Ghana came to a standstill in mid-March due to the ban on social gathering by the government to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The Ghana Football Association following the directives given by the President of the Republic on Sunday, March 15, 2020, has suspended all its competitions with immediate effect until further notice,” the GFA announced via its official website.
The unforeseen circumstance led to the cancellation of the 2019/20 football season, the Premier league, Division One league and all others leagues were declared null and void.
Although the ban on social gathering was later lifted, the future of football continued to remain unknown, leaving football fans worried and dejected.
But after a long wait, the President of the country, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo in his 17th address to nation on “Measures taken against spread of coronavirus” has announced that the ban on football has been lifted and the nation’s top flight league and other leagues will resume on October 30 with 25 percent of fans permitted to be at the various match centers.
Football fans are to adhere to all coronavirus preventive measures and clubs will be expected to regularly test their players.
”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,” the president said in his 17th address to nation on “Measures taken against spread of coronavirus”.
“With respect to football, after consultations with GFA, 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 percent (25%) capacity to ensure social distancing,” he ended.