Ghana Premier League Explained
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
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
! 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
| Clubs | City/Region | Years | Winners | Last title |
|---|
| | 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 |
| 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 |
| Obuasi, Ashanti Region | 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2015 | 4 | 2015 |
| Accra, Greater Accra | 1970, 1974 | 2 | 1974 |
| Dormaa Ahenkro, Bono Region | 2009–10, 2017 | 2 | 2017 |
| Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region | 1960 | 1 | 1960 |
| Accra, Greater Accra | 1962–63 | 1 | 1962–63 |
| Cape Coast, Central Region | 1967 | 1 | 1967 |
| Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region | 1977 | 1 | 1977 |
| Berekum, Bono Region | 2010–11 | 1 | 2010–11 |
| Accra, Greater Accra | 2016 | 1 | 2016 |
| Tarkwa, Western Region | 2022–23 | 1 | 2023 |
| Tarkwa, Western Region | 2023–24 | 1 | 2024 | |
Top scorers
Sponsorship
!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
Notes and references
References
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Teye. Prince Narkotu. 19 February 2016. Ghana Premier League: An Idiot's Guide. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727200205/https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4372/features/2016/02/19/20523402/the-idiots-guide-to-the-ghana-premier-league. 27 July 2021. Goal.com. 27 July 2021.
- Web site: TeamForm League Ranking - Africa - The Latest. TeamForm. 21 May 2024.
- Web site: 9 January 2020. SuperSport not bidding for broadcast rights of Ghana Premier League. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807042159/https://nextvnews.com/supersport-not-bidding-for-broadcast-rights-of-ghana-premier-league/. 7 August 2020. Next TV News. 11 January 2021.
- Web site: 24 November 2016. Startimes Acquires Ghana Premier League Media Rights. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180405214730/http://www.sportindustry.co.za/news/startimes-acquires-ghana-premier-league-media-rights. 5 April 2018. Sport Industry South Africa. 5 April 2018.
- Web site: Tamakloe. Victor Atsu. 1 July 2024. Hindsight: What next for GPL after StarTimes deal?. MyJoyOnline.com. 1 September 2024.
- Web site: 9 September 2024. "We did not continue our deal with StarTimes because they owe GFA close $1million" – Exco member Fred Acheampong. Kick GH. 19 September 2024.
- Web site: 9 September 2024. owe GFA close to $1million – Fred Acheampong reveals. GhanaWeb. 19 September 2024.
- Web site: 12 September 2024. StarTimes in advanced talks with GFA to return as official broadcaster of Ghana Premier League. Kick GH. 19 September 2024.
- Web site: Appiah. Samuel Ekow Amoasi. 29 August 2024. I’m not aware of GBC TV rights deal for Ghana Premier League – Dr Randy Abbey. ModernGhana. 1 September 2024.
- Web site: 20 August 2024. GTV Sports+ secures exclusive rights to broadcast Ghana Premier League for next five seasons. Ghana Soccernet. 1 September 2024.
- Web site: 1 July 2020. Coronavirus : le Championnat du Ghana annulé. Coronavirus: Ghana Championship Cancelled. L'Équipe. 1 July 2020.
- Web site: List of Topscorers. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006120920/http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/league/goalking_h.php. 6 October 2014. GhanaWeb. 3 October 2014.
- Web site: Top Scorers. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112215115/http://www.worldfootball.net/top_scorer/gha-premier-league/. 12 January 2018. World Football. 3 October 2014.
- Web site: Osei Asibey. Charles. 23 September 2010. Peter Lamptey, Ghana's first 'goalking'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151031181649/https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Peter-Lamptey-Ghana-s-first-goalking-190944. 31 October 2015. GhanaWeb. 1 July 2021.
- Web site: 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. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727134755/https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/i-owe-the-success-of-my-football-career-to-kwasi-owusu-three-times-league-top-scorer/7f793v8. 27 July 2021. Pulse Ghana. 27 July 2021.
- Web site: 27 June 2011. 'Attach former goal kings to national teams' – Choo. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182407/https://www.modernghana.com/sports/336846/attach-former-goal-kings-to-national-teams.html. 9 July 2021. ModernGhana. Ghana News Agency. 1 July 2021. en.
- Web site: 1985 FA Cup Champions: Hasmal players jubilate after 2–1 win against Asante Kotoko. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210722232306/https://www.sekondihasaacasfc.com/1985-fa-cup-champions-hasmal-players-jubilate-after-2-1-win-against-asante-kotoko. 22 July 2021. Sekondi Hasaacas F.C.. 5 October 2020.
- Web site: Teye. Prince Narkortu. 30 March 2020. 'Rest well legend' – Ghanaians react to news of Opoku Afriyie's demise. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727220331/https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/rest-well-legend-ghanaians-react-to-news-of-opoku-afriyies/1rp89dzatzczo10bavejkgm69f. 27 July 2021. Goal.com. 27 July 2021.
- Web site: 26 November 2019. Down Memory Lane – Penalty Shootout in Ghana League Started In 1989–90 Premier League. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727235434/https://nabonlinegh.wordpress.com/2019/11/26/down-memory-lane-penalty-shootout-in-ghana-league-started-in-1989-90-premier-league/. 27 July 2021. NAB Online. 26 November 2019. en.
- Web site: 2021/22 GPL: Yaw Annor nets twice to end campaign as top goalscorer. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220620005232/https://www.modernghana.com/sports/1165853/202122-gpl-yaw-annor-nets-twice-to-end-campaign.html. 20 June 2022. ModernGhana. 24 June 2022.
- Web site: National Teams Sponsorships. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101123103427/http://gloworld.com/sponsor_nationalteam.asp. 23 November 2010. Globacom. 22 December 2010.
- Web site: Zurek. Kweku. Neequaye. Bernard. 5 February 2014. First Capital Plus rescues Premier League with $10million sponsorship. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314081948/http://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/17000-first-capital-plus-rescues-premier-league-with-10million-sponsorship.html. 14 March 2016. Graphic Ghana. 5 February 2014.
- Web site: 4 February 2014. Sports Minister hails First Capital Plus Bank for sponsoring Premier League. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222042856/http://ghanasoccernet.com/ghana-fa-announce-us-10m-league-sponsorship-deal-first-capital-plus/. 22 February 2014. Ghana Soccernet. 5 February 2014.
- Web site: First Capital Plus Bank signs up for $10m as league sponsor. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140209034306/http://ghanafa.org/pages/premierleague/201402/9210.php. 9 February 2014. Ghana Football Association. 5 February 2014 .
- Web site: 3 August 2022. GFA announces betPawa as new headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier League. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230313082306/https://www.ghanafa.org/gfa-announces-betpawa-as-new-headline-sponsor-of-the-ghana-premier-league . 13 March 2023. Ghana Football Association. 3 September 2022.
- Web site: 29 November 2023. betPawa set to exit Ghana Premier League sponsorship deal after one year. Ghana Soccernet. 12 January 2024.
- Web site: Ayamga. Emmanuel. 30 November 2023. Ghana Premier League loses headline sponsorship . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20231218151436/https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/ghpl/ghana-premier-league-loses-headline-sponsorship/7yz2nh3. 18 December 2023. Pulse Ghana. 20 December 2023.
Ghana