Just four stadiums have received complete approval from the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Club Licensing Department following its evaluation of potential locations for the next Ghana Premier League season.

The Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex, Nsenkyire Sports Arena, Dun’s Park, and WAFA Park were the only stadiums that met all infrastructure standards during inspections between August 8 and August 21, 2024.

The absence of an inner border prevented the newly opened $16 million TNA Stadium from receiving full permission, even with its 13,000 capacity and substantial expenditure.

This omission has prevented it from gaining complete accreditation. Additionally, the country’s two largest stadiums, Baba Yara Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, are also on the conditional approval list.

August 30, 2024, is set aside for a re-inspection of these locations with the goal of addressing any issues and maybe obtaining complete approval.

The results of this follow-up examination will be very important because the Ghana Premier League is scheduled to start on September 6, 2024.

At the ongoing African Athletics Seniors Championships in Douala, Ghana’s women’s and men’s 4×100m relay teams have won silver and gold, respectively.

The men’s team, which included Abdul Rasheed Saminu, Edwin Gadayi, Ibrahim Fuseini, and Isaac Botsio, won the gold medal by finishing ahead of Nigeria.

The four finished in 38.63 seconds, while Nigeria, one of the main competitors, finished in 38.84 seconds.

Ghana and Nigeria competed in the relays for the fourth time. First, it happened in Accra at the African Games, where Ghana had to settle for silver while Nigeria won gold.

In a rematch in the Bahamas World Athletics Relays, Ghana prevailed to earn a trip to the Olympics in Paris. When the two nations met in Douala for the Heats, Ghana won and then repeated the victory in the final.

The Hor Halutie-led team, which included Mary Boakye, Deborah Acheampong, and Anita Afrifa, took home the silver medal in the women’s division, behind only Nigeria in the process.

Nigeria was victorious in the competition with a time of 43.01 seconds, while Team Ghana finished the race in 43.62 seconds.

On Sunday, June 16, 2024, the 2023–24 Ghana Premier League season officially ended, with Samartex finishing victorious.

Great Olympics, Bofoakwa Tano, and Real Tamale United were demoted to the Division levels at the conclusion of the season.

Nonetheless, three Division One League teams have been elevated to the premier league, where they will likely face off against some of the best teams in the 2024–2025 campaign.

Young Apostles, Basake Holy Stars, and Vision FC are among the newly promoted teams from the Division One League that are anticipated to compete in the domestic top division the following season.

Leading Hearts of Oak was among the teams fighting for survival heading into the championship round.

To stay in the league, however, the Phobians had to defeat Bechem United on Sunday afternoon at Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.

The rainbow boys overcame a late deficit to defeat the Hunters 3-2 in order to avoid relegation.

Bofoakwa Tano and Real Tamale United have already been relegated from the top division going into the final days due to their lackluster performances.

On the last day, Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, and Karela United were all fighting for relegation; nevertheless, Karela United and the Phobians emerged victorious, while Great Olympics ended up in the relegation zone.

Olympics, former league champions finished 16th position with 44 points whiles Bofoakwa Tano and RTU placed 17th and 18th positions respectively.

Great Olympics, Bofoakwa Tano and Real Tamale United will reflect on their performances, identify areas of improvement and strive to make a quick return to the Ghanaian top-flight.

Here are the 18 teams to compete in 2024/25 Ghana Premier League:

Samartex

Medeama

Aduana Stars

Asante Kotoko

Hearts of Oak

Bechem United

Berekum Chelsea

Karela united

Legon Cities

Nsoatreman FC

Accra Lions

Nations FC

Basake Holy Stars

Young Apostles

Vision FC

Heart of Lions

Legon Cities

Dreams FC

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) wants to increase the application cost from GHC 5,000 to GHC 50,000 for the job of GFA president.

The decision, which was announced to the membership on June 24, 2023, was justified by the exorbitant costs of election administration.

The increased nomination price, which marks a major increase above the GHC 5,000 fee levied by the previous government in 2019 under the Normalisation Committee, would be put into effect when the GFA receives clearance from Congress.

The Elections Committee suggested increasing the Executive Council nomination fee. It was originally GHC 2,500, but now it’s GHC 15,000 instead.

Similar to that, the nomination form for the Regional Football Association (RFA) now costs GHC 10,000. Additional GFA posts with modified fees of GHC 5,000, GHC 1,000, and GHC 5,000 will include the RFA seat on the Executive Council, District Chairman, and District Executive Council.

A Congress meeting has been scheduled for July 10, 2023, during which the GFA hope to obtain the necessary approval for these proposed changes.

As the draw is due to take place in Benin on July 12, Ghana will find out who their opponents will be for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The competition, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, presents a difficult route for Ghana to enter.

A qualification process for African teams has been devised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), comprising a total of nine or potentially 10 teams from the continent. Nine groups with six teams apiece will make up the qualifications. The group’s best team will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

The CAF has added an additional option to choose the tenth representative from Africa. A playoff will include the four best second-place clubs from each group. To compete for the tenth and last berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the winner of this playoff will face off against a side from the CONCACAF zone.

The qualifications will be held between November 2023 and November 2025, a two-year span. The first and second matchdays are scheduled for November 2023. The third and fourth matchdays are scheduled for June 2024. From the fifth to the tenth matchday of 2025, matches will be played.

The Black Stars will be attempting to make their fifth World Cup participation after qualifying for four of the previous five. They were ousted in the group stage of the most recent World Cup in Qatar after placing last in their group with Uruguay, South Korea, and Portugal.