Former Asante Kotoko chairman and current President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to move beyond rhetoric and implement concrete measures to address hooliganism in the local game.
Hooliganism has become a persistent issue in Ghanaian football, denting the sport’s image and leading to tragic incidents—including the recent death of a supporter during the just-ended season.
Speaking in an upcoming Joy Sports documentary titled Scars of Hooliganism, Mensah criticized the GFA for what he sees as a lack of meaningful response to the violence that continues to disrupt matches and endanger lives.
“The Ghana Football Association (GFA) themselves have got to stop talking so much and do more,” he stated firmly.
Mensah emphasized the need for the GFA to adopt international best practices, pointing to the use of technology, strict sanctions, and greater club responsibility as effective tools used elsewhere to curb fan violence.
“[The FA should] put in the same measures that have been put in around the world. The clubs have a sense of responsibility—they have to. You see abroad where people receive life bans. There are cameras in place to pick things up,” he noted.
He stressed that unless serious, consistent action is taken, Ghana football will remain trapped in a cycle of violence that threatens both lives and the future of the sport.
The documentary, Scars of Hooliganism, is expected to shed light on the deep-rooted issues affecting safety at football venues across the country, and could spark renewed conversations on how to restore discipline and order in the game.
