Government will bear COVID-19 test of clubs – Dr Aboagye Dacosta
Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 17th address to the nation gave football-loving fans something to cheer about by easing restrictions on contact sports.
In his address, he stated that football activities will kick-start on October 30, 2020, with strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols that have been carefully laid down by the government through the massive input from relevant stakeholders locally and internationally.
With the new season scheduled to take effect from November 13, Ghanaian Premier League clubs and Division One League sides are expected to test their playing body, technical team prior to the new season.
This new development has caused a stir amongst Ghanaian clubs with some suggesting they are still recovering from the massive impact of the novel coronavirus, which affected club revenues.
However, Dr Aboagye Dacosta the leader of the Risk Communication for COVID-19 National Response Team on the restart of the season has offered some financial respite to clubs confirming governments’ intention to bear the cost of testing for Premier League and Division One league players.
“Government will pay for the COVID-19 testing of the players of the Division and Premier League players,
We were engaged with the GFA, Sports Ministry before we sent our report to the government on the resumption of football. Now the Sports Ministry and the NSA must put in place measures to ensure 25 percent of the supporters will be at the stadium.
“The GFA, Sports Ministry should come out with the guidelines they presented on the COVID-19 protocols when they start the league”, he told Happy FM.
The Ghana Football Association have officially communicated November 13, 2020, as the start of the 2020-21 Ghana Premier League season.
