Ready to die?
February 8, this year, on my way back to Ghana, I experienced a sample of subtle, yet effective security, at the base of the Port Authority in New York, USA.
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I had just arrived, there, and tried to contact my host for part of the day, but my cellphone could not ring any number besides the emergency number, that is 911. However, many times I tried, the call would not go through, till I reached up to ground level, owing to fool-proof anti-terrorism measures taken to protect the port, in the post 9/11 era.
Certainly, Ghana can take cue, hold serious consultation with her U.S. counterparts, draw on their expertise and contract U.S. or U.S.-affiliated firms to equip stadia and other venues around the country with around-the-clock surveillance to safeguard lives, protect the reputation of our beloved sport and market our brand of football, creating employment in the process.
How could Ghana market her brand of football, if some inept administrators are allowed to continue to drag our sport in the mud? That ineptitude, the lack of discipline to exercise oversight and the lack of political will to clean house is detrimental to our society.
How long should hooligans kill our referees, while the rest of us look on, unconcerned, or take umbrage only for a minute, without demanding accountability? What does that say of us, as a people? What a plight!
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), which determines the security-size, should stop shirking its responsibility, for, it is a matter of life and death to referees in Ghana! If there are any serious people in the FA leadership, it should act promptly to stem the tide, immediately, and root it out, completely.
Would it take the prosecution of one of our football officials, for an act of commission or omission, in order for the message to register?
If the FA has the willpower, it ought to provide substantial wherewithal to ensure the necessary firepower by our security agencies, in order to prevent, contain, combat and eradicate the perennial problem of violence on, around and off the field of play.
Indeed, all football referees should be ready to die – or all have Black Belt expertise in karate, at least - every time they take centre stage, given the inadequate security provisions around our various stadia, the size of which is determined by the category of the match.
For instance, in the only Category A match – Hearts v. Kotoko – I have learnt that up to 400 paramilitary/ police personnel could be on hand. Well, guess what? How much do they each get paid? A whole 10 cedis! Really? W-o-w!
Given the mentality of some of the infinitely bankrupt minds controlling the destiny of Ghana football, is it any wonder that security at our various stadia is an afterthought?
Not much thought is given to referees’ safety, especially in the event the FA relies on the home side to provide security in a Category B - Hearts/Kotoko v. any other team, and local derbies; and in Category C – e.g. Dwarfs v. Amadaeus.
Definitely, that conveys the message that Ghana football is not security-conscious, given that some amateurs are at the helm, instead of real pros to organise, safeguard the reputation of and market merchandise, franchise and our beloved sport.
The FA has been quick to crack the whip, banning the Bordie, Tamale and Dunkwa home grounds of some clubs, following recent incidence of violence. However, since the FA does not prevent it, and the incidence of violence is on the rise under its watch, it’s its fault, not the clubs. Banning those grounds is only a face-saving measure by the FA to hide its ineptitude, but the veil is unveiled.
In the wake of the recent untimely death of a 21-year-old colleague - Kwame Andoh-Kyei - where is the outrage of referees in Ghana? Thankfully, at least one referee, not ready to die, did call off a match, recently, citing inadequate security. Much respect!
If referees would officiate matches without proper security detail, in often difficult and hostile environment, they must not care for the sport. More importantly, if they would accept the unacceptable security provisions of the FA, they must be ready to die!
In the unlikely event that some of our referees may be suicidal, still, as a people, we bear the responsibility to live in a civil society, ruled by law and order. In order to maintain a good image as a football nation, we must weed out inept public officials, weed out the violence to make our sport glamorous and make our stadia family-friendly.
That would give our sport the kind of drawing power that would make spectators at home wish they were at the stadium to enjoy our unique brand of beautiful, competitive football that we can market to the world.