Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mohammed Amin Lamptey, has opined that the issue of hooliganism and vandalism have been taken for granted as a nation.
Lamptey’s comments come after the death of a fervent supporter of Asante Kotoko, Francis Yaw Frimpong aka “Nana Pooley” on February 2, 2025 at Nsoatre when Nsoatreman FC engaged Asante Kotoko in the Premier League’s Match Day 19.
Nana Pooley was stabbed outside the playing venue multiple times whiles the match was in session and postmortem examination has revealed a deep cut in the heart.
“This unfortunate incident did not happen inside the stadium. It happened outside, and he was later picked up by a tricycle and dropped at that section of the stadium,”- DCOP Lydia Donkor, leader of the Police Investigation Team told Joysports.
“I have to clarify this because there are all kinds of comments suggesting the police allowed someone to enter the stadium with a knife,” she shared.
“Unfortunately, Nana Pooley suffered a severe loss of 1.5 litres, which was catastrophic. His chances of survival were extremely slim.”- An autopsy report.
When reacting to the incident on AhotorSports, the ace sports journalist stated the menace of hooliganism has been taken for granted as nation and there’s the to urgently address the plight.
“You see, when it comes to hooliganism and vandalism, I want to believe this as a country Ghana, we have taken things for granted. May 9 disaster claimed lives.
“The point here is that the game is a normal game. We should not take things for granted and we shouldn’t do things that would not help,” he added.
Lamptey who was a member of the NDC’s communications team ahead of the 2024 December general elections also advised the need to run the sport to attract sponsorships.
“It is like a commodity on the market. You sell for investors to sponsor your league, you sell to export Ghana players,….”
“As a country we need to spell out certain rules and regulations governing our sporting disciplines. We must develop a conscious effort of security checks.” He said.
Whiles investigation is underway, the Ghana Football Association has temporarily suspended the rest of the Premier League matches until further notice. It has already met with the club CEO’s and Supporters representatives of all the 18 teams to put in place measures to address matters of hooliganism.
So far The Ghana Police have arrested seven suspects in connection with the murder of Francis Frimpong. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the owner of Nsoatreman FC and former Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Joseph Kyeremeh, and Agyemang Duah Owusu who were first apprehended have been formally charged by the Sunyani District Court ‘B.’
During their initial court appearance, presided over by Judge Eric Daning, Baffour-Awuah and Kyeremeh were granted bail of GHC 500,000 each with three sureties. They face charges of abetment to commit a crime, to wit murder, under Sections 20(1) and 46 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
However, Agyemang Duah Owusu, a police inspector, has been charged with murder and remains in police custody at the time of this publication.
The other four suspects include Isaac Ofosu, Augustine Yeboah, Elizabeth Ntiriwaa, also known as “Akosua Black Chinese,” and another female suspect whose identity has been withheld.
