DCOP Lydia Donkor has pledged to standardize security measures at football match venues to curb hooliganism.
Her assurance follows the tragic death of Asante Kotoko supporter Francis Frimpong, also known as Nana Pooley, who was fatally stabbed during the club’s Matchday 19 fixture against Nsoatreman FC in Nsoatre.
In response to the incident, the Ghana Premier League’s Matchday 20 games were suspended as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) worked to address stadium security concerns. Asante Kotoko has since withdrawn from the competition, declaring they will not return “until justice is served.”
DCOP Donkor, who chairs the GFA’s security committee, emphasized the need for a structured security approach across all stadiums.
“We are looking into all of these concerns at various stadia, and hopefully, going forward, things are going to be more standardized,” she told Joy Sports.
She also highlighted the need for stewards to complement police efforts, noting that stewarding is not yet a standard security practice in Ghanaian football.
“In our football space, we do not have stewards as a standard form of security, adding to what the police are doing.
“We are looking at that, encouraging clubs and all stakeholders in football to start formalizing and considering the issue of stewards so that their numbers complement what the police provide,” she added.
The GFA has yet to announce when the league will resume. Meanwhile, six individuals, including Nsoatreman FC’s bankroller, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, have been arrested in connection with the incident.