CAF 2nd Vice-President and Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has officially launched the CAF Safe Stadium Initiative workshop in Accra, a three-day programme aimed at strengthening safety and security at football venues across Africa.
The event, which opened on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, at the GFA Headquarters, brings together Safety and Security Officers from all 18 Premier League clubs, members of the GFA Security Committee, and 16 Regional Sports Police Officers. Participants will undergo intensive training in areas such as crowd management, access control, and CAF safety regulations.
In his remarks, Mr. Okraku reflected on Ghana’s painful history with stadium tragedies, particularly the 2001 Accra Sports Stadium disaster, emphasising that the lessons from the past must drive future action.
“Ever since that horrible day in 2001, we have said ‘never again.’ But we must admit that we have not always ticked the right boxes during our events. That is why we are here, to learn, to close the gaps and to ensure football is delivered the way it should be, safely and responsibly,” he said.
He urged participants to share their new knowledge with colleagues and matchday staff to help restore fans’ confidence in attending games:
“People should have the confidence to travel to our match venues, to enjoy themselves and participate actively on game days. If we all play our part, our people will be happy, and when there is happiness, there is peace and tranquility.”
The training is being led by CAF security experts Xololi Nokithula Vilakati from Eswatini and Sylvanus Obi from Nigeria.
The Safe Stadium Initiative forms part of CAF’s continent-wide mission to standardise safety protocols and prevent tragedies, ensuring that football remains a source of joy, peace, and unity for fans across Africa.
