2020–21 Ghana Premier League

The 2020–21 Ghana Premier League is the 65th season of top professional association football league in Ghana. The season started on 14 November 2020.[1] 18 teams are competing in the league with each club playing each other twice, home and away, with the three clubs at the bottom of the league relegated to the Division One League.[2][3][4]

Ghana Premier League
Founded1956
CountryGhana
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision One League
Domestic cup(s)Ghanaian FA Cup
Ghana Super Cup
International cup(s)CAF Champions League
CAF Confederation Cup
Current championsAduana Stars
(2017)
Most championshipsAsante Kotoko (23)
TV partnersStar times(live matches)
Websiteghanafa.org
Current: 2020–21 Ghana Premier League

Season overview

With 18 clubs participating in the league, this marked the second time since 1980 that more than 16 clubs competed in the top division of Ghanaian football.[5] The GFA announced that the league was suspended on 15 March 2020, in the middle of match-week 15, because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] On 31 May, the league was further suspended until at least 31 June. On 30 June, the FA had a meeting and cancelled the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A meeting was held on 27 August 2020 to determine the start and logistics of the 2020–21 season.[8]

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), on Friday, 5 November 2020 launched the 65th Ghana Premier League season and other products of the Association, ie, Division One League, Women's Premier League and the MTN FA Cup. The launch took place in the studio of Broadcast partner, StarTimes and broadcast live on StarTimes Adepa Channel 247 and Max TV.[9]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 22 October 2020, The Ghana Football Association (GFA) began testing of players, coaching staff, and officials of the 18 Premier League clubs.[10][11]

The Ghana Football Association Chairman announced that the prize money for winning the league; "The winner of the 2020/21 Premier League will earn GHC 250,000 in prize money. The prize money is an increase from the GHc 180,000 received by the last winner of the Ghana Premier League Aduana Stars in the 2016/17 season."

Prize Money
  • The club that places first in the league season would earn a trophy along with a cash prize of GHC 250,000, 40 gold medals and Ghc 10,000 worth of groceries from Melcom Shopping Center.
  • The club that places second in the league season would receive GHC 150,000 and 40 silver medals and groceries from Melcom Shopping Center.
  • The club that places third in the league season would earn an amount of GHC 80,000 and 40 bronze medals.[12]

Challenges

COVID-19

The opening game between Hearts of Oak and Aduana Stars was postponed after a number of players tested positive for COVID-19. 16 teams went for the COVID-19 testing.[13]

The game between Liberty Professionals and Bechem United was also postponed due to COVID-19.[14]

Teams

The 2020-2021 Ghana Premier League season has seen an increase in the number of clubs from 16 to 18 clubs.[15]The Accra Sports Stadium would be home to five Premier League Clubs, they are Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Legon Cities , Great Olympics and Inter Allies.[16]

Location of the 2020–21 Ghanaian Premier League teams

Stadiums and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.[17]

Team Location Venue Capacity
Aduana Stars Dormaa Ahenkro Agyeman Badu Stadium 7,000
Asante Kotoko Accra Accra Sports Stadium 40,000
Ashanti Gold Obuasi Len Clay Stadium 20,000
Bechem United Bechem Nana Gyeabour's Park 5,000
Berekum Chelsea Berekum Golden City Sports Stadium 5,000
Dreams Dawu Theatre of Dreams Sports Stadium 5,000
Ebusua Dwarfs Cape Coast Cape Coast Sports Stadium 15,000
Eleven Wonders Techiman Ohene Ameyaw Stadium 2,000
Elmina Sharks Elmina Nduom Sports Stadium 5,000
Great Olympics Accra Accra Sports Stadium 40,000
Hearts of Oak Accra Accra Sports Stadium 40,000
Inter Allies Accra Accra Sports Stadium 40,000
Karela United Aiyinase CAM Stadium 5000
King Faisal Techiman Ohene Ameyaw Park 10,000
Legon Cities Accra Accra Sports Stadium 40,000
Liberty Professionals Dansoman Carl Reindorf Park 2000
Medeama Tarkwa TNA Park 12,000
WAFA Sogakope Red Bull Arena 1,000

Managers & Clubs

The table lists club managers.[18]

Team Manager
Aduana Stars Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin
Asante Kotoko Johnson Smith
Ashanti Gold Milovan Cirkovic
Bechem United Ernest Danso
Berekum Chelsea Michael Hesse Odamtten
Dreams Wilfred Dormon
Ebusua Dwarfs Ernest Thompson Quartey
Eleven Wonders Ignatius Osei-Fosu
Elmina Sharks Joachim Yaw Acheampong
Great Olympics Annor Walker
Hearts of Oak Kosta Papic
Inter Allies Henrik Peters Lehm
Karela United Evans Adotey
King Faisal Slaviša Bozicic
Legon Cities Bashir Hayford
Liberty Professionals David Ocloo
Medeama Samuel Boadu
WAFA Prosper Nartey Ogum

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appoitment Table
Legon Cities Goran Barjaktarević Sacked 21 November,2020 Bashir Hayford 25 November,2020 18th[19][20]
Asante Kotoko Maxwell Konadu Sacked 18 December,2020 Johnson Smith (Interim Manager) 18 December,20202 6th[21][22]
Hearts of Oak Edward Odum Re-assigned to the youth team December,2019 Kosta Papic 2 December,2020 11th[23][24]

League Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Karela United 12 6 4 2 18 10 +8 22 CAF Champions League
2 Great Olympics 12 6 3 3 16 9 +7 21
3 Asante Kotoko 12 5 5 2 10 6 +4 20
4 Bechem United 12 5 4 3 14 16 −2 19
5 WAFA 12 5 3 4 20 16 +4 18
6 Aduana Stars 12 4 6 2 13 10 +3 18
7 Dreams 12 4 5 3 16 12 +4 17
8 Ashanti Gold 12 4 5 3 13 13 0 17
9 Medeama 12 4 5 3 13 13 0 17
10 Hearts of Oak 12 4 4 4 16 11 +5 16
11 Elmina Sharks 12 3 7 2 15 16 −1 16
12 Ebusua Dwarfs 12 4 4 4 13 14 −1 16
13 Eleven Wonders 12 3 5 4 11 12 −1 14
14 Legon Cities 12 3 4 5 10 12 −2 13 Relegation to lower league
15 Berekum Chelsea 12 3 4 5 12 16 −4 13
16 Liberty Professionals 12 2 5 5 8 17 −9 11
17 King Faisal 12 2 4 6 15 24 −9 10
18 Inter Allies 12 2 1 9 4 12 −8 7
Source: type=Goal.com

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 30 January 2021

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Daniel Lomotey WAFA 8
2 Diawisie Taylor Karela United 8
3 Kwame Opoku Asante Kotoko 6
4 Yaw Annor Ashanti Gold 5
5 Mohammed Yahaya Aduana Stars 5

Clean sheets
Rank Player Club Clean

sheets

1 Saifu Saeed Accra Great Olympics 4
2 Razak Abalora Asante Kotoko 3
Fatau Dauda Legon CIties FC
Richard Baidoo Karela
Eric Antwi Medeama SC
Solomon Agbesi Dreams FC
Rashid Siedu International Allies FC
Joseph Addo Aduana FC

Awards

Monthly Awards
Month Player of the Month Manager of the Month References
Player Club Manager Club
December Gladson Awako Great Olympics Kwaku Danso Bechem United [25][26]

References
  1. "Ghana resolve to keep 18-team Premier League beyond 2019–20". Goal.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. "Premier League Fixtures". Ghana FA. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. Association, Ghana Football. "StarTimes to telecast minimum of 68 Live Matches in GPL 1st round". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  4. Association, Ghana Football. "GFA launches 2020/2021 football season". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  5. "Ghana resolve to keep 18-team Premier League beyond 2019–20". Goal.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  6. "Coronavirus: Ghana Football Association suspends Premier League after presidential directive". Goal.com. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. "Coronavirus: Aduana Stars coach Fabin afraid to restart Ghana Premier League". Goal. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. "Covid-19: Blow for Premier League as Ghana extends ban on contact sports". Goal. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  9. Association, Ghana Football. "Accreditation for 2020/21 season". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  10. "Covid-19: GFA to start testing of Ghana Premier League players and officials today – MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  11. "All premier league clubs have completed Covid-19 testing – GFA – MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  12. Association, Ghana Football. "GFA announces prize money for Premier League winner and runners up". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  13. "Ghana Premier League teams record 56 cases of coronavirus". www.ghanaweb.com. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  14. "Coronavirus knocks out another Ghana Premier League match, Liberty-Bechem game postponed". www.ghanaweb.com. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  15. "Ghana Premier League: Clubs vote to maintain 18-team league henceforth". Citi Sports Online. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. "GHPL: Five teams choose Accra Stadium as home grounds as clubs present venues for 2020/2021 season". Citi Sports Online. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  17. Association, Ghana Football. "Submitted venues for 2020/2021 football season". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  18. "List of Ghana Premier League coaches for 2020/2021 season". Pulse Ghana. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  19. "GPL: Legon Cities sack coach Goran Barjaktarevic – Reports". Citi Sports Online. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  20. "Legon Cities sack head coach Goran Barjaktarevic after 17 games in charge". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  21. "Asante Kotoko sack coach Maxwell Konadu". Citi Sports Online. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  22. "Kotoko sack Maxwell Konadu after Great Olympics defeat". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  23. "Kosta Papic appointed Hearts of Oak coach, ditches SA academy plans". Kick Off. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  24. "OFFICIAL: Kosta Papic named new Hearts of Oak Head Coach". Citi Sports Online. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  25. Association, Ghana Football (14 January 2021). "Gladson Awako wins GPL NASCO Player of the Month -December". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  26. Association, Ghana Football (14 January 2021). "2020/21 GPL Season: Kwaku Danso wins December NASCO Coach of the Month Award". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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