The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has pledged to build a modern community football pitch at the Tesano Police Depot as part of a fresh security and infrastructure pact with the Ghana Police Service.
GFA President Kurt Okraku met with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), COP Christian Tetteh Yohunu, at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, 19 February, to cement a partnership aimed at transforming the safety and development of the national game.
The visit, which included GFA Vice-President Mark Addo and Executive Council members, focused on “specialised sports policing” to tackle the unique challenges of crowd management, match manipulation, and illegal betting.
At the heart of the talks was the GFA’s “Power to the Youth” initiative. The new facility at the Police Depot School in Tesano is designed to provide a high-quality platform for local talent to flourish. Okraku described the project as a “key intervention” to bolster sporting infrastructure.
He also praised the Police Service for its active role in the domestic leagues. He specifically highlighted the contributions of the Police Ladies in the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League and Police National FC, who are currently competing in the Access Bank Division One League.
The meeting addressed the growing need for enhanced security technology at stadiums.
COP Yohunu assured the Association that specialised units would be deployed to reduce hooliganism and ensure matchday safety for families and fans.
This collaboration aims to provide a safer environment for spectators while maintaining the integrity of the sport through a joint task force designed to combat match manipulation.
The tone turned solemn as Okraku called for “swift investigations” into the death of football fan Nana Pooley.
He emphasised that the football community requires justice and closure for the bereaved family to maintain trust in matchday security.
With Ghana’s eyes set on international assignments, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, both institutions agreed to establish a permanent, coordinated security framework.
To further integrate the sport into the community, the GFA offered to make Premier League content available free-to-air on Police TV, making domestic football more accessible to the public than ever before.
COP Yohunu thanked the GFA for the infrastructure investment at the Tesano pitch, noting that a safer environment at match venues is essential for the long-term growth of the Ghanaian game.
