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GPL Wrap-up: Samartex clinch historic title
FC Samartex secured their first-ever Ghana Premier League title after a 1-0 win over Bibiani GoldStars FC at home while Great Olympics beat Asante Kotoko as the race for survival intensifies.
Asante Kotoko 0-1 Accra Great Olympics: Dr Kwame Kyei Complex, Kumasi
Accra Great Olympics recorded a vital 1-0 win at Asante Kotoko to enhance their Ghana Premier League survival prospect on matchday-32 on Sunday.
Raymond Oko Grippman’s 44th minute strike delivered the important win for the visitors at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
Olympics, 16th on the league table with 39 points, will move above their city rivals Hearts of Oak, if they beat Dreams FC in an outstanding match on Wednesday June 5, 2024.
The Premier League is heading to a photo-finish with as many as six teams heavily involved in the relegation dog-fight.
Kotoko lie 10th with 43 points and will need at least one win from the remaining two matches to safeguard their safety in the Ghanaian top-flight.
Medeama SC 0-1 Heart of Lions: Akoon Community park, Tarkwa
Ebenezer Abban scored an injury-time penalty to hand Heart of Lions an important 1-0 win at Medeama SC on Sunday.
Abban stepped up to make amends after he missed an earlier penalty in the 89th minute at the Akoon Community park.
The visitors have jumped to 13th on the league table with 41 points – a big result that could prove crucial in the battle to avoid relegation.
The result means Medeama SC have lost out in the title race with the Premier League crown heading to FC Samartex 1996.
The Mauve and Yellow are tied on same points with Aduana FC in third position.
Nsoatreman 1-1 Accra Lions: Nana Konamansah park, Nsoatre
Nsoatreman FC and Accra Lions shared the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Nana Konamansah park on Sunday.
Collins Kofi Kudjoe scored first for the home side as early as the 6th minute before Bernard Kesse pulled parity in the 25th minute.
Accra Lions are 5th on the table with 48 points while Nsoatreman FC lie 8th on the table with 46 points.
Berekum Chelsea 2-0 Real Tamale United (RTU): Golden City park, Berekum
Berekum Chelsea striker Stephen Amankona is now the leading scorer in the 2023-24 Ghana Premier League after he scored in their 2-0 win over Real Tamale United (RTU).
Amankona, who has now scored 16 goals, sealed victory for the Blues in the 45th minute with a beautiful strike.
Kusi Pandrous opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 21st minute before Amankona put the game beyond the basement club.
Berekum Chelsea have secured their top-flight status and lie 7th with 47 points while rock-bottom Real Tamale United have amassed just 31 points.
Dreams FC 1-0 Karela United: Theatre of Dreams, Dawu
Youngster Abdul Aziz Issah scored the only goal of the match as Dreams FC beat Karela United 1-0 at home on Sunday.
Issah, the joint-top scorer in the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup, scored the decisive goal on the stroke of the end of the first half at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu.
Dreams, who have two outstanding matches to clear, lie 14th with 41 points from 30 matches while United drop to 15th on the table with 40 points.
FC Samartex 1-0 Bibiani GoldStars FC: Nsenkyire Sports Arena, Sambreboi
FC Samartex 1996 have secured a historic Ghana Premier League title after beating Bibiani GoldStars FC 1-0 at home on Sunday.
Emmanuel Mammah’s first half strike has delivered the Premier League crown for the Samreboi-based side.
The Nsenkyire Stadium has been thrown into spontaneous jubilation with celebration expected to go deep into the night.
Samartex knew they had to avoid defeat to win the title, after second-placed Aduana FC lost at Bechem United on Saturday.
Now dethroned champions Medeama also missed out after losing 1-0 at home to Heart of Lions to help Samartex secure the Premier League crown in style.
The Timber giants have opened a nine-point lead at the top of the table with just two matches to end the season.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku, has expressed deep sorrow following the sudden passing of Isaac Batsa, the constituency secretary for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker issued a statement on Tuesday reacting to the news, which has shocked the local political community.
Mr.Awuku praised the late NDC secretary for his bipartisan approach to local governance.
He noted that despite their different political affiliations, Batsa consistently rose above party lines to serve the constituency with diligence.
The MP revealed that the news was particularly shocking given that he had last interacted with Batsa just three days prior on Saturday.
Concluding his statement, Sammy Awuku extended his heartfelt condolences to Batsa’s family, the constituency and regional executives, and the entire NDC fraternity, wishing the deceased peaceful eternal rest.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
