Former Asante Kotoko head coach and Black Stars captain Charles Kwablan Akonnor has voiced deep frustration over what he describes as the persistent and embarrassing state of the Ghana Premier League, following yet another season marred by controversy.
In an interview with Citi Sports, Akonnor did not hold back as he reflected on the chaotic end to the 2024/25 campaign, a season marked by crowd protests, heated disputes over officiating, and rising fan discontent.
“It’s embarrassing, you know,” Akonnor said. “Every season, these things happen. It’s not good because it doesn’t take us anywhere. We need sanity to prevail in our league.”
The former national team captain, who played and coached at the highest levels of Ghanaian football, said the repeated issues particularly poor refereeing and matchday disruptions, are stunting the league’s growth and threatening the development of young talent.
“The delays, the drama, the officiating, it’s not how a professional league should run,” he lamented. “If this continues, where is our next generation of players going to come from?”
This season’s match between Basake Holy Stars and Nation FC drew fresh criticism after footage circulated online appearing to show questionable refereeing decisions, sparking renewed debate about bias and incompetence in officiating.
“Match officiating is a big problem,” Akonnor noted. “I’ve seen the videos. Whether they’re accurate or not, the fact that these accusations keep coming up means something has to change.”
Akonnor’s remarks add to the growing chorus of voices calling for urgent reforms in Ghana’s top-tier football league. From club managers to fans, the message has been clear: the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and league organisers must act swiftly to restore professionalism, fairness, and integrity.
“We’ve come a long way as a football nation,” Akonnor said. “But if we want to compete and grow, we need to start with the basics, running a clean, credible local league.”
