Today in history: The first professional league in Ghana kicks off

On Sunday 19th December, 1993, the Ghana premier league for the very first time was played and it took place in 6 league centres across the country.

How professional football in Ghana began
The idea for a professional league in Ghana was first raised by the then Minister of Youth and Sports, E.T Mensah on Wednesday 8th, September, 1993 at the Secaps Hotel in Accra. At a dinner in honour of the national Under 17 team, the Black Starlets for emerging runner-up in the FIFA JVC under 17 World Cup in Japan.

The Minister lamented on the amateurish way of the organization of football clubs, saying there was the need for clubs to be turned into corporate entities to ensure a more professional way of running them.

The GFA boss, Nana Brew Butler who had the idea of clubs going commercial complimented the effort of the Minister of Sports, since both parties had similar ideas. The Minister saying the clubs should go professional and the GFA boss wanting clubs to go commercial.

The Winneba declaration
On Thursday 16th September, 1993, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in conjunction with the National Sports Council (NSC), the Ghana Football Association (GFA) organized a three (3) day seminar on the subject at the National Sports College, Winneba.

The Youth and Sports Minister in his opening address urged Ghanaian clubs to go professional. He noted that registering clubs as corporate entities will solve several problems for them and ensure a more professional way of dealing with soccer.

The function was chaired by Mr. Zac Bentum, a former Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss. Among the topics treated were the incorporation of football clubs under the companies' code, floating of shares for the clubs, Mr. Ray Whelan, Managing Director of Bobby Charlton enterprise spoke on professionalism, with experience from U.K and Japan, etc

The declaration indicated among other things that clubs shall be incorporated under the 1963 Act (179), with effect from the 1993/94 season.

It also said that with effect from the 1993/94 season all first division clubs shall enter into a contractual agreement with their players, to bring them to a non- amateur status. Furthermore it urged first division clubs to register not less than 16 non amateur players for the 1993/94 season.

The formation of the Professional/Premier League Board (PLB)

A seven member Professional League Board (PLB), Chaired by Zac Bentum, with Mr. E. Lamptey as vice cum treasurer was formed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in consultation with the GFA headed by Mr. Nana Sam Brew-Butler.

The other members were Mr. W.K Agra (Former National Sports Authority Chief Executive), Mr. Kofi Harlley, Registrar- General's Department, Mr. Joe Aggrey, President of SWAG, Mr. Kojo Quarshie and Major Yaw Larsen both of the league Clubs Association

Seed money
As an encouragement and capacity building gesture, the Ministry paid GHC 300 to each premier league club to reduce the burden on them in their maiden professional league season.

Match day 1 of Ghana's first-ever professional league

Sun Dec 19, 1993
Accra Hearts of Oak 2-0 Accra Great Olympics
Prampram Mighty Royals 0-2 Neoplan Star
Tema Ghapoha 1-2 Afienya United
Okwahu United 2-1 Dawu Youngsters
Obuasi Goldfields SC 2-0 Ebusua Dwarfs
Kumasi Asante Kotoko vs Real Tamale United
NB: Kotoko did not turn up because they failed to raise a team due to reports that their players were still demanding from management unpaid allowances in their unsuccessful African Champions' Cup final against Zamalek of Egypt. RTU were declared winners, technically and Kotoko started the league with a deficit.

First goal in the premier league: Scored on the 15th minute.

Sun Dec 19, 1993
Mighty Royals 0-2 Neoplan Star
Roland Kwakye for Neoplan Star
Ghapoha 1-2 Afienya
Sam Yeboah for Ghapoha
NB: Although there should be some seconds to separate, the two quick goals scored on the first day of the premier league, the reports of the match officials didn't capture them.

Interviews with some of the characters that have contributed to the growth of the Ghana premier league