The Black Stars will now pitch their training camp at the regional capital of Ashanti instead of Johannesburg after outbursts from Ghanaians
The Ghana Football Association wishes to announce that following a review meeting between the Management & Technical Team, it has changed plans to camp the Black Stars in South Africa ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana was originally scheduled to open a training camp in South Africa from Sunday, December 31, 2023, for a ten-day period ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament in Cote D’Ivoire. Following the decision, the team will now camp in Kumasi beginning Tuesday, January 2, 2023.
The International friendly against Botswana scheduled on Monday, January 8, 2023 in Johannesburg is called off and the FA is working on finding a new opponent for the team as part of the build up to the tournament in Abidjan.
The Association is mindful of the request of the Black Stars Technical Team for a quiet and serene camping atmosphere, and thus, the hotel will be strictly inaccessible to the public and the media.
Again, the training sessions will be behind closed doors and not available to the public and media.
The team will, however, organise a session with the media. The friendly match will also be open to the public, after which they will be a post-match press conference with the media.
The Association calls for public understanding and support to ensure that the objectives of the Technical Team of the Black Stars during the camping period in Kumasi are achieved.
Ghana is paired in Group B alongside giants Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
The Black Stars will open their campaign against Cape Verde on Sunday, January 14, before taking on record holders Egypt on January 18 and play Mozambique on January 22 in the other Group B game.
The beleaguered policeman who allegedly killed his former girlfriend has been arrested on Sunday in Ashanti region
Ghana Police Service has confirmed the arrest of Inspector Ahmed Twumasi who allegedly shot six times and killed his former girlfriend Maa Adwoa on Friday evening in Adum, Kumasi.
The sad incident happened after the deceased was believed to have opted to ditch the suspect and that led to disagreements due to heartbreak and disappointment.
“POLICE INSPECTOR ARRESTED FOR THE MURDER OF A WOMAN IN KUMASI IN THE ASHANTI REGION,” a statement by the police began.
“The Police have this evening arrested a Police officer, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi, who is alleged to have shot and killed a female adult, who was believed to be his girlfriend.
“The shooting incident occurred in Kumasi, in the Ashanti region, on Thursday, 20th April 2023.”
The statement added: “The suspect, who has been on the run since the incident, was arrested at Sekyere, near Effiduase in the Ashanti Region as a result of a special Police operation, which was launched following the shooting incident.
“The suspect is currently in Police custody and will be put before court to face justice.”
Adwoa left behind one child whom she had with her former boyfriend.
The Black Stars skipper could not believe his eyes as he left the Baba Yara Sports Stadium after Black Stars training without some valuables
Ghana captain Andre Ayew experienced one of the shocks of his life when he was mobbed by some fans in Kumasi on Thursday after Black Stars’ last training ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs first leg against Nigeria.
Ayew, 32, who has been ruled out of the game due to suspension, arrived at the stadium to support his teammates and welcome the debutants who were handed their maiden call to the national team.
After a successful training and media interaction, Ayew was mobbed by over hundred fans who were hailing him while others wanted to have a picture with him for future memories.
In the process, the former Swansea City captain, who now plies his trade in Qatar with giants Al Sadd, lost his watch and gold chain worth around £20,000 in the process.
Ayew arrived at the Kumasi airport with his chain
Although, the person who stole the items was not seen immediately as police escorted Ayew to the team bus, a video circulating on social media had one guy making a confession behind the scenes of having the valuables.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Watch & listen to commentary behind on how fans mobbed Ayew and stole his valuables
Ghana will travel to Abuja on Saturday for the return fixture against Nigeria and the winner after the two legs will automatically qualify for the World Cup to be staged in Qatar later this year.
With barely 48 hours to the much-anticipated game between the Black Stars and Super Eagles, some of the tickets are already sold out
After a couple of hours since the E-ticket for the first leg of 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs between Ghana and Nigeria went live, the 5,000 seats allocated for VIP out of the total seating capacity of 40,528 have been sold out, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
With each VIP ticket going for GH₵100 ($13.3), many Ghanaians and Nigerians have bought them and are now patiently waiting for Friday to support their respective country in a bid to make it to Qatar 2022.
Don't let anyone lie to you that Ghanaians, especially those in Kumasi and its environs, will not troop to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium to support Black Stars against Nigeria on Friday.
Some of the tickets are sold out & others are on the verge of getting finished. Go Ghana🇬🇭🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/0g1HXUUvKL
National Sports Authority (NSA) of Ghana teamed up with Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Ghana Football Association to come up with an easy way of purchasing tickets for the cliffhanger encounter in order to avoid the usual stress which supporters and enthusiasts go through.
Fans can now easily buy a ticket with their phones by dialing the short code *711# and then select option 2. They later fill a short form and their tickets numbers with barcodes will be sent to them for verification at the gates on Friday.
Anyone who wishes to be at the stadium can purchase a ticket for himself or herself as well as other friends and relatives. One mobile number can buy two tickets in order to avoid hoarding and black market.
As at Wednesday evening, the tickets left on the market were East Stand (Yellow) popularly known as Centre-line which goes for GH₵50 per ticket.
Current state of Baba Yara Sports Stadium
Also, some tickets for North Stand (Red) and South Stand (Green) are still available and each ticket costs GH₵30 respectively.
Ghana’s squad touched down in Kumasi on Tuesday and they later trained at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium with 26 players since Jordan Ayew was yet to report due to ill health.
However, the Crystal Palace forward arrived on Wednesday from England and has joined his teammates to fine tune ahead of the game.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s contingent will arrive in Accra, Ghana on Thursday morning. They will connect another flight from Accra to Kumasi and later train at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which will host the game.
The Nigerians are expected to lodge at the Golden Tulip Hotel between Thursday and Saturday.
Nigeria squad to face Ghana:
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa);
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
New arrivals: John Noble(Enyimba FC, Nigeria), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain)
The Super Eagles have began their fine tuning ahead of the all-important game against Ghana for a place in the World Cup
Nigeria began their preparations for the first leg of 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs against Ghana on Tuesday and every player called was in camp as at Wednesday morning with the exception of Enyimba star John Noble and Sadiq Umar of UD Almeria.
However, the duo are expected to join their teammates by the close of the day as the team wrap up their preparations in Abuja this evening before they travel to Accra on Thursday morning.
Nigeria’s training in Abuja on Wednesday
They will connect another flight from Accra to Kumasi on Thursday and later train at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which will host the game.
The Nigerian contingent are expected to lodge at the Golden Tulip Hotel between Thursday and Saturday.
The return fixture has been scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja and the winner after the two legs will automatically qualify for the World Cup to be played in Qatar in November.
Nigeria travelling squad to Ghana
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa);
Current state of Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi
Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
New arrivals: John Noble(Enyimba FC, Nigeria), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain)
The country’s football governing body in conjunction with National Sports Authority have tediously worked put the facility in an awesome shape ahead of the game on Friday
Ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup playoffs between Ghana and Nigeria on Friday, Ghana government and Ghana Football Association have combined to get Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a very wonderful shape.
A fortnight ago, Fifa and Caf came out with a decision to reject Cape Coast Sports Stadium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium was then given a temporal license to host the first leg of the playoffs but several conditions were attached.
As a result, works serious began and as at Wednesday, almost 90 per cent of the recommendations were ready.
“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted a one match approval for Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi to host the World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off match between Ghana and Nigeria,” a Ghana FA statement read last week Wednesday.
Current state of the stadium with 48 hours to kick off
“The approval comes after a CAF Licensing Inspector visited the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Sunday to inspect the facility.
“In a letter signed by CAF Development Officer, Raul Chipenda and sent to the General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq. and copied to FIFA, CAF stated that:
“Reference to the CAF stadium inspection conducted to Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi) for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round match, Ghana Vs. Nigeria scheduled for the 25th of March 2022, following the analysis of the report we have taken the following decision:
“Grant a one-match approval for the use of Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi) in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African qualifiers playoff round match Ghana Vs. Nigeria;
Upon conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 playoff round match, the stadium is automatically removed from the list of CAF approved stadiums and will only be approved for any subsequent CAF/FIFA international senior national teams matches and CAF men’s interclubs competitions following the implementation of all the CAF remarks”. The letter further stated that the following conditions must be met before the match against Nigeria. They include:
Installation of new international standard, modern and comfortable officials’ benches at pitch level;
Adjustment of the floodlight intensity. A minimum of 1200 Lux should be provided all over the pitch, covering uniformly every area of the playing field; Increase seating and lockers in the teams dressing rooms to reach (25) persons;
Installation of completely new modern equipment and materials in the referees dressing rooms and ensure that is equipped with all the necessary materials and CAF requirements;
Set up the water system to provide both cold and hot water in the teams and officials dressing room;
General refurbishment of the CAF office, installation of modern desks and seats, including the necessary electronic and working equipment;
VOC must be available and equipped with all the necessary equipment and requirements;
Complete refurbishment of the media tribune, press conference room and media centre, installing new and modern equipment.
Meanwhile, Ghana interim coach Otto Addo has announced a 27-man squad for the game with only one local player in the person of Dennis Korsah who plays for Hearts of Oak.
Others include Thomas Partey who is expected to captain the team following Andre Ayew’s suspension. There are other debutants like Antwi Adjei and Club Brugge defender Odoi
Also, the NSA has teamed up with Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ghana Football Association to come up with an easy way of purchasing a ticket for the cliffhanger encounter.
Fans can easily buy a ticket with their phones by dialing the short code *711# and select option 2.
This comes up as a result of public outcry on how tickets easily become too difficult to find especially on matchdays.
Anyone who wishes to at the stadium can purchase a ticket for himself or herself as well as other friends and relatives.
A trip to the stadium on Monday
The last time Ghana played Fifa World Cup playoff game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the Black Stars annihilated Egypt 6-1 and went on to qualify with a 7-3 aggregate scoreline after losing the return fixture 2-1 in Cairo.
Hours after several people lost their lives at Appiatse near Bogoso which involved a mining car carrying dynamite, another car has been involved in an explosion.
Reports suggest that the fuel tanker caught fire at Kaase, suburb of Kumasi, and people in the neighborhood had to intervene before fire service personnel arrived
As at now, no death has been recorded but some properties have been destroyed.
The bus was trekking from the Upper West to Ashanti regional capital only to be involved in the fatal accident at Akomadan following a fire outbreak
Reports reaching AshesGyamera.com indicate that close to thirty (30) people have been burnt to death following fatal a car accident at Akomadan in the Offinso North District in Ashanti Region on Tuesday morning.
According to accounts from eyewitnesses, the bus with about over fifty passengers was heading to Kumasi from Lawra in the Upper West Region when the vehicle caught fire upon reaching Akomadan.
As a result, the driver lost control of the bus and crashed it into a towing car resulting to about thirty death toll and several injuries to the remaining survivors.
The injured ones were rushed to Zion Hospital at Akomadan for emergency treatment after Fire Service arrived at the scene to help save lives while the deceased were sent to a morgue at Nkenkaasu morgue.
According to our reports, the Police have opened investigations into what led to the sudden outbreak of fire in the car which contributed to the accident.
Families who had members traveling on Monday in Upper West region to Kumasi have been contacted to come for identification in order to take those they know for a proper burial service.
The intermediary of the Porcupine Warriors coach has insisted that his client will not be in Ghana on Friday as earlier speculated
Charles Kaoudio, agent of Asante Kotoko head coach Kjetil Zachariassen has revealed that his client will stay put in Cote d’Ivoire despite the ultimatum given to him by the club to return on Friday or else face charges.
The Norwegian tactician is yet to arrive in Ghana barely a week after Kotoko suffered a painful exit from Caf Confederation Cup following a 2-1 aggregate defeat to San Pedro and was reported to the Ivorian police service for going AWOL.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Kotoko gave the coach an order to report to duty on Friday or else they will take legal actions against him but his agent claims it is not possible to meet the deadline since there are a lot of security issues to be checked.
“I wanted to speak to Kotoko chairman Kwame Kyei because the coach told me we should deal directly with him since Nana Coker wasn’t there when he was employed. As far as I’m concerned, we are waiting for directives from the chairman and not Coker before my client will travel to Ghana and continue his job”. Kaoudio told Otec FM.
“I received a letter on my WhatsApp that my cclient should come back to Ghana and resume work on Monday but I’m waiting for a phone call because even in the letter, there was nothing about his safety amid the brouhaha. I can tell you that as soon as I hear from Kotoko that his security is granted, he will return immediately to help the club,” he added.
Tension is building in Suame Magazine in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, following the closure of some foreign owned spare parts shops by aggrieved members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).
A group of well built men popularly referred to as machomen contend that GUTA has no right to lock shops of foreigners trading in the artisanal hub hence their decision to unlock all shops closed by the GUTA Suame Magazine Taskforce.
The timely intervention of the Suame Police command managed to avert possible clashes between GUTA taskforce members and the local group of machomen fighting for the interest of the Nigerian traders.
GUTA members in Ashanti region over the years have been fighting Nigerian traders particularly in Suame Magazine, Adum and Alabar for engaging in illegal retail activities contrary to ECOWAS trade rules for foreigners.
Successive and the current government’s failure to resolve the local traders’ concerns in the trade sector has compelled the GUTA members to fight for their right by locking up shops belonging to the foreigners.
Three days after closure of the shops operated by foreigners trading in spare parts among others goods by GUTA members in Kumasi in Central Business District and Suame Magazine, a group of Machomen in the morning emerged in Suame Magazine to unlock shops locked by GUTA Taskforce members.
The GUTA taskforce members again locked the shops in response creating tension and fear among the two local groups.
However, the timely intervention of police in Suame managed to calm the two groups down.
Meanwhile, the local machomen fighting for the interest of the Nigerians explained that the action of the GUTA members against the foreigners must not be entertained.
According to the group, the closure of the Nigerians spare parts shops will breed hunger among Ghanaian employees working for the foreigners as shop keepers hence their action.
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