Who stands to gain or lose in the Ghana PL resumption?
When Covid-19 broke free and entered our country, Ghana, little did we know that it was going to be a fiber of our every day lives. From afar, we saw countries record abnormal cases and deaths.
Ghana recorded it’s first two cases on March 12, 2020, that was the turning point in our lives, our economy, and major activities having to cede its position to the virus.
As part of efforts, the President suspended public gatherings in the country leading to the suspension of sporting activities of which, football a contact sport was affected, the Ghana Premier League was suspended on March,15.
This however heightened calls for the annulment of the league like Kenya, Mali, Zambia, Congo, and others had done to safeguard its citizens from contracting the deadly virus.
Dr. Prince Pamboe added his voice to the numerous persons in the country that called for the annulment of the league.
According to him,it will be “irresponsible to restart football without a 100% safety guarantee, it won’t be proper to risk anyone’s life”. he told Asempa FM.
GHALCA Chairman Kojo Fianoo, Ignatius Osei Fosu(Eleven Wonders), Asare Bediako of Berekum Chelsea, and others waded into the calls for the cancellation of the season.
In a sharp contrast, Bechem United CEO Nana Kwasi Darlington held an opposing stance calling for the league’s continuation despite the coronavirus outbreak backed by Godwin Attram, Commodore Mensah.
“We should not end the league because of the COVID-19, but we should continue. I won’t opt for cancellation, or it being truncated,” he told Opemsuo Sports
Meanwhile, Communications Director of the GFA, Henry Asante Twum was off the view that, you ought not to bite off the hand that feeds you.
“I’m saying these people have spent on the league, including the GFA, when you make a decision without consulting them, because of Covid-19, what happens to the relationship with StarTimes, Nasco and other partners”
To borrow the words of our President Nana Akufo Addo, “I assure you that we know what to do to bring our economy back to life but we can’t bring people back to life’
I am of the belief that in these trying times, shouldn’t we prioritize human lives over every other thing?
Are we basing the resumption of the league on the logic that, sponsors might have invested too much to lose out on the league been canceled?
What are the safety measures to safeguard the lives of players, technical staff, supporters, media men, and other auxiliary staff that troop to the stadium?
What happens if we carefully plan the new season, because from the look of things Covid-19 will be around for a while?
The GFA has held a series of meetings with the President’s Covid-19 committee, stakeholders, and partners in the last few weeks as it looks to meet its June 30 deadline to make a definite decision on the league’s next move.
