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President Edwin Simeon-Okraku delivers message of hope and rallies support at Brong Ahafo “Meet The Press”
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku delivered a message of hope as he rallied support for Ghana Football during an interactive and heart-warming edition of the GFA’s ‘Meet The Press’ Series held in Sunyani on Friday August 9, 2024.
In a well attended event hosted at the Eusbett Hotel, the President urged for collaborative efforts between the media and the Ghana Football Association for the forward march of football in the country.
In a detailed address to the media in Sunyani, President Simeon-Okraku touched on several areas of interest including, but not limited to sponsorship, support for clubs, financial sustainability, refereeing, acts of violence, youth development, Catch Them Young Referee policy, Premier League media rights and betting.
The President also touched on Governance, Competitions, Coach Education, the new-look Technical Centre at Bolgatanga and Prampram, implementation of Football Strategy, support for RFAs’, National Teams, Youth Competitions, Registration of juvenile players, use of social media and Parliamentarians who have taken interest in investing in football directly.
President Edwin Simeon-Okraku also used the opportunity to address allegations levelled against his administration relating to perceived influencing of Referees and perceived bias in the decision to divide the National Division One Zone 1 into two subzones.
He stated that every policy of the Football Association is targeted at the greater good of the game.
“I stand for Ghana Football. The Exco stands for Ghana Football and not for individual Clubs. Whatever polices we make, or decisions we take are for the greater good,” he said
He said, “The claim that the GFA or myself control or have interest in referees are completely false and must be disregarded. It’s just a creation of a non-existent theory.”
While admonishing media practitioners to be circumspect and get acquainted with the laws of the game and their interpretation, the President asked the media to help him to educate Football fans to curb hooliganism which has no place in football, and to protect the Ghana Football brand.
“Under no circumstance should a referee lose his life for getting a decision wrong. Let’s take hooliganism in any form out of our game. The product is supreme. We should hold and protect the product,” he said.
According to him, “We must also be abreast with the laws and their interpretation because what you say impacts the emotions and opinion of supporters and largely contributes to some of the negative vibes around our domestic league.”
He underscored the vital role played by the media in creating an enabling environment for football to thrive and urged stakeholders to uphold the tenet of honesty.
The GFA President further said, “Without the media, we cannot create the enabling environment for footballers and administrators to deliver football and footballing products. We must be honest. And being honest is the way forward for all of us.”
He added that “At club level, no money is small money. We have to be clever on how we can deliver our football platforms for people to be interested in them.”
He also said the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association is working hard to put the National Division One League (DOL) Live on television.
“The vision of the Executive Council of the GFA is to put the National Division One League on TV. We are working extremely hard towards achieving that,”he assured.
Ahead of the engagement with the media, President Simeon-Okraku paid a visit to the Brong Ahafo Regional Football Association (BARFA) Secretariat where he met with the Regional Chairman, his Executive Committee and staff of the Secretariat.
The President will also meet with Premier, Women and Division One League Clubs from the region to discuss ways in which the FA could be of greater help to them.
The GFA’s decision to hold the session in Sunyani highlights the Association’s efforts to engage with all Football regions across the country to foster greater transparency and inclusivity in its operations.
This is the second time the President will be engaging the media in the ‘Meet The Press’ series after the first one was held in Kumasi back in February 2024.
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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