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The Ghanaian top-flight will admit only 25 per cent attendance at the various league venues when the 2020-2021 season resumes next month, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced.

The Ghana Premier League and all other football-related activities of the Ghana FA were put on hold in mid-March as a measure to curb the fast spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Seven months after the directives from the presidency, football is set to resume on Friday, October 30, 2020. This was revealed when the President was delivering his 17th address on the COVID-19 to the whole nation on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

According to the President, no spectators will be allowed at the training grounds of the various team’s.

“No spectators will be allowed at the training centres, and, when actual competition resumes, seating at all stadia will be limited to twenty-five per cent (25%) capacity to ensure social distancing. Wearing of masks by spectators at stadia will be mandatory,”President Nana Addo said.

He continued, “The restart of all other sporting competitions will be determined on a case-by-case basis, pending consultations between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the respective sports associations.”

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lifted the ban on contact sports including football after seven months of suspension.

The country’s most popular sport -football thus returns next month, the President announced during his address no. 17 on measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus, after several consultations with the health experts and other important stakeholders who have been advising the president with regard to the novel disease.

The Government of Ghana as part of its measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the sports industry lifted the restrictions on non-contact sports a few weeks ago while allowing the Black Starlets, Satellites, and the Maidens to resume training ahead of their respective CAF and FIFA assignments.

Several football enthusiasts agitated for the resumption of of football despite the gradual ease of restrictions on sports considering most of the leagues in Europe and some Africa countries have resumed, and how political parties were conducting their political activities.

Speaking during his COVID-19 update number 17 on Sunday, September 20, 2020 President Nana Addo announced that the resumption of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League and the Division One League will restart on Friday 30th October, 2020.

Additionally, only 25 per cent of fans will be admitted into the various league venues when the season finally resumes.

The government placed an embargo on all football-related activities in mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus breakout in Ghana. This decision led to the cancellation of the 2019/2020 football season and as such, all records associated with it were expunged.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) has sent a message of solaces to juvenile club Africa Vision Soccer Academy an the families of the young footballers who perished in a ghastly accident on Saturday 19 September, 2020.

The team had travelled to Afrancho to complete their registration for the upcoming season.

READ MORE: SAD NEWS: Offinso-based Colts football club involved in a gory accident, Six dead, four in critical condition

The players aged between 12 and 15 died in the Ashanti Region after the driver of the bus carrriver.ayers of Africa Vision Soccer Academy lost control and the vehicle plunged into the Offinso river..

A statement released by the Sports Ministry read:

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports wishes to commiserate with the management, playing body and the families of young boys who unfortunately died in a gory accident in the Offinso District of the Ashanti Region on Saturday 19th SepSeptember20.

” The report states that the team was returning to its base after it undertook the registration of its players for the District Juvenile league.

“The Ministry on behalf of the Hon Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah expresses its condolences to the bereaved families and the entire football fraternity.

“The Ministry will like to assure all that, appropriate measures would be taken to avert future occurrence.”

Former Ghana Football Association vice-president, Fred Pappoe has expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the young Ghanaian footballers who perished through a car crash on Saturday in the Ashanti Region.

The colts team Africa Vision FC had travelled to Afrancho to complete their registration for the upcoming district colts football league in the Ashanti Region and were returning to Offinso.

Six of the footballers dead at the accident spot with two later dying at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. Four others are currently battling for their lives at the hospital.

Twenty-four (24) other kids are also receiving medical care at the St. Patrick Hospital in Offinso following the ghastly accident.

The vehicle which was carrying 36 passengers, submerged in the Offinso River when the driver lost in control.

The 2019 Ghana FA presidential candidate expressed sadness over the accident and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

“My grieving heart goes out to the families of our young footballers who perished so painfully yesterday pursuing their passion. I wish the injured ones a very speedy recovery and pray that with humility we all learn our lessons to carve a safer future for us all. RIPP friends, ” he tweeted on Sunday morning.

A GFA delegation made up Ashanti RFA Chairman Osei Tutu Agyemang (Kotoro), Exco member Fred Acheampong, NJC member Aminu Abdullahi (Kamarat)and Samuel Otoo of the Ashanti RFA have visited victims of yesterday’s accident at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on Sunday morning.

The juvenile team made up of young players and their handlers were headed to Afrancho having undergone their District Colts football registration exercise at Offinso on Saturday before the vehicle conveying them submerged.

Unfortunately, six of the young footballers passed away while others sustained various degrees of injuries.

READ MORE: SAD NEWS: Offinso-based Colts football club involved in a gory accident, Six dead, four in critical condition

 The GFA delegation earlier visited the St Paul’s hospital in Offinso where they met Dr Debrah who explained the extent of injuries the victims at the hospital sustained as a result of the accident.

READ MORE: Colts Footballers’ Accident: Ghana FA dispatches contingent to KATH; consoles families of 8 killed in the accident 

The delegation also visited the bereaved families to commiserate with them before going to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to visit other victims who sustained serious injuries. 

©GFA

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has dispatched a delegation to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, where survivors of a ghastly accident involving colt footballers are currently receiving treatment after the vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road into the Offinso River.

Six of the footballers dead at the accident spot with two later dying at KATH.

The players had travelled on Saturday to Afrancho to complete their registration for the upcoming district colts football league in the Ashanti Region, and were returning to Offinso.

But unfortunately, the vehicle carrying 36 passengers, submerged in the Offinso River when the driver lost in control.

In a statement to condole the team and bereaved families, the GFA said a joint team consisting of some members of its Executive Council and the National Juvenile Committee (NJC) is visiting the survivors at KATH.

“The contingent, made up of Ashanti Regional Football Association Chairman, Osei Tutu Agyemang, Executive Council Members, Frederick Acheampong, Madam Habiba Attah Forson and NJC member Aminu Abdulahi, will visit the injured and console the bereaved families and send a report to the headquarters in Accra for further action.”

The GFA expressed sadness over the accident and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

“In these trying times, we stand shoulder to shoulder with all the bereaved families,  those injured and those going through psychological stress.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the departed and the victims. May their souls Rest In Peace.”