By Godwill Arthur Mensah
Accra, Feb. 20, GNA – Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader of Parliament, has said the Mahama-led government would make sports development a cornerstone under its 24-hour economy policy.
He said to ensure this, plans were underway to negotiate a deal with SuperSports, a renowned South Africa-based sport channel, to provide coverage for the Ghana Premier League.
The move, he said, would enable Ghanaian football talents to be marketed across Africa and the globe to secure contracts in major leagues worldwide.
The Majority Leader, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, made this known when contributing to a statement made by Mr Dickson Kyere-Duah, the MP for Berekum West, on the floor of Parliament.
Mr Kyere-Duah’s statement on the floor of the House, raised concerns about the creeping hooliganism in Ghana football and called for stringent security protocols at the various stadia across the country.
He referred to the disturbances that occurred at a football match at Nsoatre between Nsoatreman United and Kotoko Football Club, leading to the untimely death of Kotoko fan Francis Yaw Frimpong, popularly called “Pooley”.
He called for sensitisation of soccer fans to understand that football “was not a life and death” affair but an avenue for friendship.
While contributing to the statement, Madam Millicent Yeboah Amankwah, the MP for Sunyani West, whose constituency the disturbances occurred added her voice to the call to ensure strict security protocols at the country’s stadia.
She expressed her condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased and urged the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.
Mr Sammi Awuku, the MP for Akuapim North, while contributing to the statement, suggested a ban on siting drinking bars within the precincts of any football stadium in Ghana.
He said that would prevent soccer fans from patronising alcohol being sold near football stadiums.
GNA