Club Licensing Manager of the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Esme Mends, has highlighted security concerns regarding the absence of designated safe zones at the University of Ghana Stadium and the Baba Yara Sports Stadium With just two days to the highly anticipated return of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League.
Mends emphasized key areas that require attention, including the state of the playing field, the presence of inner perimeter fencing or barrier systems, minimum seating capacity, dressing rooms, external walling, and safe entry and exit points.
Despite these concerns, he reassured fans and stakeholders that the outstanding issues are not major enough to prevent matches from taking place at the venues.
Speaking exclusively to Channel One Sports, Mends urged clubs to address the final requirements swiftly to ensure a smooth and secure league kickoff.
“We gave certain venues conditional approval because they met some of the conditions, so what is left for them to do isn’t too major.
The little things they have to do won’t stop them from playing their home game .
We will go back and re-inspect on the 9th of March, if those things are not done up to the standard required then that means we can’t allow them use the venue .
If whatever we asked them to do is done then they can host matches at that venues.”
Security concerns have been raised at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. An on-site inspection will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of proposed solutions and provide further recommendations.
and Home of Berekum Chelsea
Meanwhile, three other venues-Wenchi Sports Stadium, AAK II Ampain, and Golden City Park-are facing both technical and security challenges. These venues require repairs and renovations and have, therefore, been deemed unapproved until a re-inspection is conducted.
