Sports Minister Kofi Adams demands harsher sanctions for stadium violence

Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has called for stricter penalties. He wants tougher consequences for violent conduct at football stadiums.

His comments came after chaos during the Ghana Premier League Matchday 33. The match was between Basake Holy Stars and Nations FC at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena. This game was important for the 2024/25 league title race.

The match was stopped due to rising tensions on the pitch. Chaos began when Nations FC protested a second penalty awarded to Basake Holy Stars. This led to a pitch invasion by fans.

Nations FC claimed that their chairman, Dr. Kyei, and president, Mr. Divine Kyei Boadu, were assaulted during the incident. They stated that this violence created an unsafe environment for everyone involved.

Minister Adams emphasized the need for accountability and quick action. He believes that everyone should face consequences, regardless of their status or political ties.

"People must be punished when they do something wrong," he said on Sporty FM. "We must have the tenacity to punish wrongdoing."

He warned that if violence continues, many fans will turn to foreign leagues instead of supporting local ones.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, no sanctions have been issued nearly 48 hours later. However, the Ghana Football Association has acknowledged the disturbance and is investigating further.