Ghana FA Blocks Betting Odds on Local Matches to Tackle Fixing

The Ghana Football Association has moved to protect the credibility of its domestic competitions by banning betting companies from offering odds on local fixtures.

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Speaking at the 32nd congress of the association, GFA president Kurt Okraku explained that the decision was aimed at curbing match‑fixing, a problem that has affected leagues across the world.

He described the step as vital for safeguarding the integrity of the Ghana Premier League and ensuring that financial inducements do not influence results. 

Okraku made the position clear: “No betting company has been licensed to place odds on domestic leagues.” He also confirmed that the GFA is working closely with security companies to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.

The announcement comes just days before the start of the 2026‑27 Ghana Premier League season, which kicks off between September 4 and 7 and runs until the final weekend of May 2027.

At the same congress, the FA revealed new prize packages, with the 2025/26 champions set to receive a record GHS 2 million. The runners‑up will earn GHS 1 million, while third and fourth place will take home GHS 800,000 and GHS 750,000 respectively.

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Ghana’s match-fixing scandals

The FA’s latest ban follows multiple scandals that have shaken Ghanaian football in recent years. One of the most notorious was the Ashanti Gold versus Inter Allies match in 2021, where Ashanti Gold won 7–0 on the final day of the season.

Inter Allies defender Hashmin Musah deliberately scored two own goals to disrupt what he later revealed was a pre‑arranged correct‑score betting plot.

The Ghana Football Association responded by demoting both clubs to Division Two and handing lengthy bans to players, coaches, and officials involved.

Even before that, the sport had been rocked by the 2018 undercover documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Titled “When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm,” the film secretly captured officials across the GFA accepting cash bribes.

Then GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi resigned after being filmed taking money and promising influence over sponsorships and match outcomes. The government attempted to dissolve the compromised association, prompting FIFA to warn against state interference. A normalization committee was eventually installed to stabilize the game.

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