"Seek ye first safety at the stadia and."

Accra, May 12, GNA - "Seek ye first safety" at our stadia and

the supporters would come running is the clarion cry of the many

football lovers shunning the Ghanaian Premier League. Supporter apathy has engulfed the Premiership games and with

stakeholders brainstorming to erode the situation, customers have

underscored safety at the arenas as a major deterrent to patronizing

the product - football. The various supporters groups taking part in the session say

they have received little assurance about their safety at the stadia

since the May 9 tragedy that claimed 126 lives in 2001 at the Ohene

Djan stadium in Accra. Mohammed Alhassan, Organizing Secretary of Hearts of Oak's

National Chapters group raised concern about safety of supporters

at match venues in what was to become a chorus for other speakers

including Abdul Aziz of the famous Chapter "O" of Hearts and Abraham Boakye, President of the Ghana National Supporters Union (GHANSU). The trio contended that until such a time that supporters' are guaranteed of their safety, the stands would continually remain empty. The supporters similarly believe the country's inability to prosecute culprits caught on camera for the May 9 mayhem and the recent overcrowding that claimed four lives in a league game between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak has deterred some fans

from patronizing the games. Boakye and colleagues also emphasized on the need for the

media to hype the local players as against those in the foreign

leagues. With the global economic crunch visiting every home, the

supporters called for a review of gate fees, insisting most of them

are priced out touch of matches. Another area that came under the microscope was the lack of

quality among players and the need for clubs to strengthen and

encourage ties with their supporters.