Ghana Premier League

Ghana Premier League
Logo used since 2022
Founded1958; 66 years ago (1958)
CountryGhana Ghana
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams18 (from 2019–20)
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision One League
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current championsSamartex
(2023–24)
Most championshipsAsante Kotoko (25 titles)
TV partnersMax TV (live matches)
WebsiteOfficial website
Current: 2024–25 Ghana Premier League
Previous logo used from 2018 to 2021.

The Ghana Premier League is the top professional association football league in Ghana organized by the Ghana Football Association[1] and formed in 1958 to replace a previous league incarnation, the Gold Coast Club Competition which ran from 1933 to 1953–54. As of the first quarter of 2024, the league was ranked as the 8th best league in Africa by TeamForm.com.[2]

Asante Kotoko is the most successful team in the league with 25 titles, followed by Accra Hearts of Oak with 21. The bottom 3 teams are relegated at the end of each season and placed in each zone of the Ghanaian Division One League.

The 2019–20 season was halted and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana that mirrored the cause of postponement or cancellation of association football leagues and competitions across the globe.

Broadcasting

[edit]

In September 2013, South African broadcaster SuperSport signed a deal with the Ghana Football Association to broadcast the league on DStv and GOtv.[3] On 23 November 2016, Chinese pay television provider and broadcaster StarTimes secured official television production and broadcast rights for the league,[4] which expired at the end of the 2023–24 season, with numerous reports and interviews stating that StarTimes owes the GFA $1 million and are in negotiations for a new deal.[5][6][7][8] However, hindsight reports indicate that GTV Sports+, the sports channel of Ghanaian state broadcaster the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, had secured the rights for the current 2024–25 season.[9][10]

Champions

[edit]
Years Champions
1958 Hearts of Oak (1)
1959 Asante Kotoko (1)
1960 Eleven Wise (1)
1961–62 Hearts of Oak (2)
1962–63 Real Republicans (1)
1963–64 Asante Kotoko (2)
1964–65 Asante Kotoko (3)
1966 Mysterious Dwarfs (1)
1967 Asante Kotoko (4)
1968 Asante Kotoko (5)
1969 Asante Kotoko (6)
1970 Accra Great Olympics (1)
1971 Hearts of Oak (3)
1972 Asante Kotoko (7)
1973 Hearts of Oak (4)
1974 Accra Great Olympics (2)
1975 Asante Kotoko (8)
1976 Hearts of Oak (5)
1977 Sekondi Hasaacas (1)
1978 Hearts of Oak (6)
1979 Hearts of Oak (7)
1980 Asante Kotoko (9)
1981 Asante Kotoko (10)
1982 Asante Kotoko (11)
1983 Asante Kotoko (12)
1984 Hearts of Oak (8)
1985 Hearts of Oak (9)
1986 Asante Kotoko (13)
1987 Asante Kotoko (14)
1988–89 Asante Kotoko (15)
1989–90 Hearts of Oak (10)
1990–91 Asante Kotoko (16)
1991–92 Asante Kotoko (17)
1992–93 Asante Kotoko (18)
1993–94 Ashanti Gold (1)
1994–95 Ashanti Gold (2)
1995–96 Ashanti Gold (3)
1996–97 Hearts of Oak (11)
1997–98 Hearts of Oak (12)
1999 Hearts of Oak (13)
2000 Hearts of Oak (14)
2001 Hearts of Oak (15)
2002 Hearts of Oak (16)
2003 Asante Kotoko (19)
2004 Hearts of Oak (17)
2005 Asante Kotoko (20)
2006–07 Hearts of Oak (18)
2007–08 Asante Kotoko (21)
2008–09 Hearts of Oak (19)
2009–10 Aduana Stars (1)
2010–11 Berekum Chelsea (1)
2011–12 Asante Kotoko (22)
2012–13 Asante Kotoko (23)
2013–14 Asante Kotoko (24)
2015 Ashanti Gold SC (4)
2016 Wa All Stars (1)
2017 Aduana Stars (2)
2018 Championship canceled
and declared null and void
2019 Asante Kotoko (25)
2020 Season postponed, then canceled[11]
2020–21 Hearts of Oak (20)
2021–22 Asante Kotoko (26)
2022–23 Medeama (1)
2023–24 Samartex (1)

Performance by club

[edit]
Clubs City/Region Years Winners Last title
Asante Kotoko Kumasi, Ashanti Region 1959, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003, 2005, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2021–22 25 2021–22
Hearts of Oak Accra, Greater Accra 1956, 1958, 1961–62, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1989–90, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2020–21 21 2020–21
Ashanti Gold[a] Obuasi, Ashanti Region 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2015 4 2015
Accra Great Olympics Accra, Greater Accra 1970, 1974 2 1974
Aduana Stars Dormaa Ahenkro, Bono Region 2009–10, 2017 2 2017
Eleven Wise Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region 1960 1 1960
Real Republicans Accra, Greater Accra 1962–63 1 1962–63
Mysterious Dwarfs Cape Coast, Central Region 1967 1 1967
Sekondi Hasaacas Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region 1977 1 1977
Berekum Chelsea Berekum, Bono Region 2010–11 1 2010–11
Legon Cities[b] Accra, Greater Accra 2016 1 2016
Medeama Tarkwa, Western Region 2022–23 1 2023
Samartex Tarkwa, Western Region 2023–24 1 2024

Top scorers

[edit]
1973–2024 Ghana Premier League top scorers[12][13]
Season Best scorers Team Goals Ref
1973 Ghana Peter Lamptey Accra Hearts of Oak 26 [14]
1974 Ghana Dan Owusu Bofoakwa Tano 24 [15]
1975 26 [15]
1976 28 [15]
1977 Ghana George Alhassan Accra Great Olympics —
1978 Ghana Muhammed Choo Real Tamale United 22 [16]
1979 Ghana Opoku Afriyie Asante Kotoko —
1980 Ghana Emmanuel Quarshie Sekondi Hasaacas 18 [17]
1981 Ghana Opoku Afriyie Asante Kotoko 21 [18]
1982 Ghana Muhammed Choo Real Tamale United 15 [16]
1983 Ghana Anane Kobo —
1984 Ghana Anane Kobo —
1985 Ghana George Alhassan Accra Great Olympics —
1986 Ghana Tony Yeboah Cornerstones —
1987 —
1988–89 Ghana Henry Acquah Accra Hearts of Oak —
1989–90 Ghana Muhammed Tijani Cornerstones 15 [19]
1990–91 Ghana Thomas Boakye Asante Kotoko —
1991–92 Ghana Abdul Mumuni Dawu Youngstars —
1992–93 Ghana Augustine Ahinful Goldfields 12
1993–94 Ghana Oscar Laud Dawu Youngstars —
1994–95 Ghana Charles Amoah Okwawu United —
1995–96 Ghana Kofi Deblah Goldfields —
1996–97 Ghana Kofi Deblah Goldfields —
1997–98 Ghana Joe Fameyeh Accra Hearts of Oak —
1999 Ghana Ishmael Addo Accra Hearts of Oak 19
2000 21
2001 22
2002
Accra Hearts of Oak 18
2003 Ghana Shaibu Yakubu Goldfields Obuasi 13
2004–05 Ghana Samuel Yeboah Heart of Lions —
2005 Ghana Prince Tagoe Accra Hearts of Oak 18
2006–07 Ghana Emmanuel Clottey Accra Great Olympics 14
2007–08 Ghana Eric Bekoe Asante Kotoko 17
2008–09 Ghana Alex Asamoah Asante Kotoko 16
2009–10 Ghana Bismark Idan
Ghana Samuel Afum 		Kessben
Accra Hearts of Oak 		13
2010–11 Ghana Nana Poku Berekum Arsenal 17
2011–12 Ghana Emmanuel Baffour New Edubiase United 21
2012–13 Ghana Mahatma Otoo Accra Hearts of Oak 20
2013–14 Ghana Augustine Okrah Bechem United 16
2015 Ghana Kofi Owusu Berekum Chelsea 19
2016 Ghana Latif Blessing Liberty Professionals 14
2017 Ghana Hans Kwofie Ashanti Gold 17
2018[c] Ghana Hafiz Konkoni
Ghana Kwasi Donsu 		Bechem United
Medeama 		8
2019–20[d] Niger Victorien Adebayor International Allies 12
2020–21 Ghana Diawisie Taylor Karela United 18
2021–22 Ghana Yaw Annor Ashanti Gold 24 [20]
2022–23 TBC TBC TBC
2023–24 TBC TBC TBC

Sponsorship

[edit]
Period Title sponsor Name Ref.
1956–2008 None Ghana Premier League
2009–2013 Globacom (Glo) Glo Premier League [21]
2013–2015
First Capital Plus (Bank) Premier League [22][23][24]
2016–2022 None Ghana Premier League
2022–2023 betPawa betPawa Premier League [25]
2023–present None Ghana Premier League [26][27]

See also

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Notes and references

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ Formerly known as Obuasi Goldfields.
  2. ^ Formerly known as Wa All Stars FC
  3. ^ Abandoned on 7 June 2018 as a result of the dissolution of the GFA owing to Anas Aremeyaw Anas' investigative documentary on the body's internal corruptive operations.
  4. ^ Abandoned and daclared null and void as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequential impact on its football operations.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Teye, Prince Narkotu (19 February 2016). "Ghana Premier League: An Idiot's Guide". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  2. ^ "TeamForm League Ranking - Africa - The Latest". TeamForm. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  3. ^ "SuperSport not bidding for broadcast rights of Ghana Premier League". Next TV News. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Startimes Acquires Ghana Premier League Media Rights". Sport Industry South Africa. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  5. ^ Tamakloe, Victor Atsu (1 July 2024). "Hindsight: What next for GPL after StarTimes deal?". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ^ ""We did not continue our deal with StarTimes because they owe GFA close $1million" – Exco member Fred Acheampong". Kick GH. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  7. ^ "StarsTimes [sic] owe GFA close to $1million – Fred Acheampong reveals". GhanaWeb. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ^ "StarTimes in advanced talks with GFA to return as official broadcaster of Ghana Premier League". Kick GH. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  9. ^ Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (29 August 2024). "I'm not aware of GBC TV rights deal for Ghana Premier League – Dr Randy Abbey". ModernGhana. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  10. ^ "GTV Sports+ secures exclusive rights to broadcast Ghana Premier League for next five seasons". Ghana Soccernet. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Coronavirus : le Championnat du Ghana annulé" [Coronavirus: Ghana Championship Cancelled]. L'Équipe. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  12. ^ "List of Topscorers". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  13. ^ "Top Scorers". World Football. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  14. ^ Osei Asibey, Charles (23 September 2010). "Peter Lamptey, Ghana's first 'goalking'". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Yeboah, Thomas Freeman (8 April 2020). "I owe the success of my football career to Kwasi Owusu: Three times league top scorer Dan Owusu reveals". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  16. ^ a b "'Attach former goal kings to national teams' – Choo". ModernGhana. Ghana News Agency. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  17. ^ "1985 FA Cup Champions: Hasmal players jubilate after 2–1 win against Asante Kotoko". Sekondi Hasaacas F.C. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  18. ^ Teye, Prince Narkortu (30 March 2020). "'Rest well legend' – Ghanaians react to news of Opoku Afriyie's demise". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Down Memory Lane – Penalty Shootout in Ghana League Started In 1989–90 Premier League". NAB Online. 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  20. ^ "2021/22 GPL: Yaw Annor nets twice to end campaign as top goalscorer". ModernGhana. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  21. ^ "National Teams Sponsorships". Globacom. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  22. ^ Zurek, Kweku; Neequaye, Bernard (5 February 2014). "First Capital Plus rescues Premier League with $10million sponsorship". Graphic Ghana. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Sports Minister hails First Capital Plus Bank for sponsoring Premier League". Ghana Soccernet. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  24. ^ "First Capital Plus Bank signs up for $10m as league sponsor". Ghana Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  25. ^ "GFA announces betPawa as new headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier League". Ghana Football Association. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. ^ "betPawa set to exit Ghana Premier League sponsorship deal after one year". Ghana Soccernet. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  27. ^ Ayamga, Emmanuel (30 November 2023). "Ghana Premier League loses headline sponsorship". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
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