Former Hearts of Oak captain Amankwah Mireku, has expressed his strong support for Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak’s call for a greater percentage of TV rights revenue in the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
His comments come after Ghana’s two biggest clubs, in a rare show of unity, jointly signed a document demanding reforms in the league including an increase in their share of television broadcasting rights.
The demand follows the tragic death of Kotoko fan Francis Frimpong, popularly known as Pooley, which has intensified discussions about the state of football in Ghana.
Speaking on the issue, Mireku insisted that Kotoko and Hearts are the driving forces of Ghanaian football, and their demand is justified given their size, influence, and television appeal.
“There are two big rivalry teams that make the league very interesting. For Ghana, that is Kotoko and Hearts so for them to demand a bigger share of the TV deal, yes, they deserve it. Why are Kotoko and Hearts matches shown live on TV more than other teams? It’s because of their pedigree and what they bring to the league. So, for me, their demand is fair, and it should be granted.”
Mireku further emphasized that increasing TV revenue for Kotoko and Hearts would not only benefit the two clubs but also help grow the league, improve player quality, and attract sponsors.
“If Kotoko and Hearts get more from TV rights, that money should reflect in player incentives and development but the players also need to step up and perform to justify these demands. If the league improves, more sponsors will come in, and that benefits everyone.”
The demand for increased TV rights revenue is part of a broader set of reforms proposed by Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak to improve the GPL.
