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Football’s season of demonstrations
Chocolate coins thrown by fans at the Bundesliga match between Heidenheim and Wolfsburg
The state of Ghana football has become an enormous worry for Ghanaians lately.
And it has reached a point that required drastic measures, damned the consequences, to keep the nation’s passion afloat.
The situation has led to a historic fans’ demonstration in the capital spearheaded by sports journalists who feel the state’s intervention was required to halt the direction the Kurt Okraku Ghana Football Association (GFA) administration is driving the game.
The involvement of these seasoned journalists in the football rescue operation makes the development even more exciting due to the fact that this kind of exercises have usually been seen as a preserve of the fans.
So, for them to abandon their microphones in their respective studios to march under the scorching Accra sun tells a story of how disturbing the situation has become.
But trying to understand exactly what their actions were about, it is very important to decipher the factors under consideration in arriving on the subject of the ‘state of Ghana football.’
As expressed by an ex-player John Paintsil on a television programme recently, Ghana football should encompass the game’s administration from the very grassroots to the very top, the Black Stars which performance appears to have been the cause of the actions.
That, in itself, is another problem football lovers must try to seek redress to due to the over concentration on the cash cow (Black Stars) to the detriment of all others.
The quality of the game from the lower divisions all the way to the Ghana Premier League (GPL) has been nothing to write home about. Matches are very boring with clubs using crude tactics to win matches.
Referees are not left out of the chaos as they churn out unimpressive performances that raise a lot of question marks over their competence.
The fans also contribute their quota in a negative way to make it murkier with their violent conducts at venues, attacking opposing teams and fans as well as referees.
All of these contribute to taking the shine off our so-called beautiful game which should have attracted the attention of the conveners.
But, as usual, it is the rapid decline of the Stars that is giving almost everyone sleepless nights and warranting such actions.
I read in the last few minutes before this piece that a second demonstration earmarked for Kumasi in the Ashanti region was called off due to scheduled engagement with some of the major stakeholders in the line of restoring Ghana’s lost glory in football.
It would have been bigger than the Accra edition due to the passion fans in the region have for the game.
A 15-point petition called among other things a political will and support of the legislature to fashion out a policy to deliberately develop the game.
That touches on the game’s administration in Ghana, from the Juvenile Leagues, the Division Two League, Division One League, Ghana Premier League, and the National football teams, particularly the Black Stars.
It also highlighted the development of a national football policy, disbandment of the management committee, structural reforms, government investing massively in school sports, technical development, infrastructure, grass-root football, the establishment of national training centres for all national teams’ coaches and their contracts.
These are very genuine concerns but the question on the lips of many vexed in football would be the kind of interpretation or spin to be put on the invitation of government and its legislature in this matter.
This has happened in other jurisdiction and has been described as political interference and led to bans and formation of Normalisation Committees. This should be fresh in our memories.
One may then ask about the specific role of the government, knowing the consequences of taking such actions.
I feel the onus lies on the FA to do exactly what the masses are calling for without necessarily government intervening. As football people, they understand the concerns of the masses and are well placed to fix them. What they need now is a complete change of attitude.
But call the week a season of demonstrations and one would not be far from right.
Far away in German, fans launched a series of protests, independent of the clubs, aimed at reversing or at least reconsidering a law that allowed the influx of capital for football broadcasting.
The protests were carried out by supporters of different teams in Germany and caused matches to be disrupted.
The interesting thing about their demonstration was the manner it was carried out.
While Ghanaian fans carried several placards with captivating inscriptions and walked for a few hours, the Germans attended their games and interrupted play anytime a goal was scored by throwing tennis balls and chocolate coins onto the pitch, delaying the starts and restarts of games and forcing referees to abandon matches.
During a second division match between Hamburg and Hanover, banners with a target superimposed over the face of Hanover’s president were displayed. The match was interrupted for 30 minutes when tennis balls and other objects were thrown onto the pitch.
Similar protests delayed the start of the Bundesliga match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich on February 10.
The weekend’s game between Bochum and Bayern Munich was also disrupted several times by the fans action.
Two days fans of Accra Hearts of Oak also hit the streets in the typical Ghana demonstration fashion, also wielding placards with several inscriptions and calling for reforms.
Maybe as the attention of the German and Ghana FAs are drawn to their respective issues, fans or demonstrators of the two countries can also share a few ideas about holding demonstrations. That may help them know the best way to go about it – walking for hours or causing match disruption.
By Andrew Nortey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
