Kotoko to be liable for any violence at Konongo

Accra, Aug 18, GNA - The Professional League Board (PLB) has warned Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club that it would be held solely liable for any acts of violence that may be meted on any club official or media personnel at their new adopted Konongo venue if approval is given for their use.

A statement signed by Kwaku Ampem-Darko, Deputy General Secretary Technical of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said the PLB has been forced to come to this decision because of the failure of the management of Kotoko to issue a disclaimer on comments attributed to Mr Yamoah Ponkoh, Deputy Operations Manager of the Club to the effect that they cannot guarantee the safety of match officials and media personnel who do not behave well at their new venue.

Mr Ampem-Darko said it is with grave concern that the PLB has learnt of the statements attributed to Mr Ponkoh on a Kumasi FM Station, (Kessben FM) warning match officials and Media men who will be visiting their new home grounds to "behave" lest they are unsafe.

The statement said the PLB views such pronouncements as very dangerous and inimical to the development of football in Ghana as it could undermine efforts being made to rid the on-going league of violence in order to produce a clean and worthy champion at the end. "Such statements can only be a deliberate ploy to intimidate match officials and media men from doing their just duties and also incite supporters of the club against officials who fail to do the club's bidding", it added.