Ghana’s presidential advisor on Covid-19, Dr. Nsiah Asare, announced on December 2, 2021, that the government plans to bar unvaccinated fans from attending football matches to curb the spread of the Omicron variant, recently detected in the country.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Fox FM, Dr. Asare emphasized the need for vaccination to ensure safe attendance at public events, including Ghana Premier League games, as part of broader efforts to manage rising Covid-19 cases.
Vaccination Push for Fans
Dr. Asare urged Ghanaians to get vaccinated, stating, “I’m entreating everyone to get vaccinated this month to enable everyone to go about his normal duty freely, by doing this, football fans can go to the stadium and watch their football without any restrictions.” He added, “We are allowing everyone to get vaccinated now to allow them to go to the stadium and cheer their teams up.”
The policy, set to take effect from January 22, 2022, aligns with mandatory vaccination requirements for public sector workers, health workers, students, and others, as announced by Ghana Health Service (GHS) Director-General Patrick Kuma-Aboagye on November 28, 2021.
Omicron Surge at Kotoka Airport
The announcement follows Ghana’s detection of 34 Omicron cases at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), with 75% of those infected being unvaccinated, according to GHS. Over the last two weeks of November 2021, airport cases accounted for 60% of Ghana’s total Covid-19 infections, with 241 cases recorded compared to 168 in November 2020.
Dr. Aboagye noted, “The current increase in cases, together with the detection of the Omicron variant, calls for urgent actions.” Unvaccinated travelers faced mandatory vaccination or a 14-day quarantine, with airlines fined $3,500 per unvaccinated passenger.
Low Vaccination Rates
Ghana’s vaccination campaign, launched on March 1, 2021, with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses via COVAX, had fully vaccinated only 5.7% of its 30 million population by December 2021.
A December vaccination drive aimed to boost uptake, but hesitancy rose from 17.2% in March 2021 to 23.8% in June, driven by concerns over vaccine safety and misinformation, particularly among urban residents and opposition voters.
Impact on Football
The Ghana Premier League, a key cultural institution, faced disruptions during the pandemic, with stadiums like Baba Yara in Kumasi operating under strict protocols. The new policy could limit attendance, especially among fans hesitant to vaccinate, potentially affecting clubs like Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
Broader Context
Ghana’s measures mirror regional efforts, with Nigeria mandating vaccinations for civil servants and Tanzania resuming football earlier in 2020 despite health risks.
As the Omicron variant drove a fourth wave globally, with 41 cases detected at KIA by December 2021, Ghana’s focus on vaccinations aims to protect public health while reviving football’s vibrant atmosphere.
