Director of Sports for the Ghana Police Service, ASP Ansah Yabuku, has acknowledged the significant difficulty in identifying violent fans during football matches, despite increased security measures.
Speaking in ‘Scars of Hooliganism’, a JoySports documentary delving into the troubling rise of violence in Ghanaian football, ASP Yabuku admitted that the volatile nature of matchday crowds complicates efforts to preempt hooliganism.
“Our culture of fan passion is deeply rooted, but some of that passion turns into violence,” he explained. “Identifying these individuals in very big crowds is a challenge for all the security services.”
The documentary explores how unchecked fan aggression is driving players, referees, and supporters away from the sport, leaving a trail of trauma and disillusionment.
ASP Yabuku emphasized the Ghana Police Service’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safety at stadiums but conceded that resource limitations make isolating troublemakers in emotionally charged environments a battle.
