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]
 Logo used since 2022 | |
| Founded | 1958 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Ghana |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 18 (from 2019–20) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Division One League |
| Domestic cup(s) | |
| International cup(s) | |
| Current champions | Samartex (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Asante Kotoko (25 titles) |
| TV partners | Max TV (live matches) |
| Website | Official website |
| Current: 2024–25 Ghana Premier League | |
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
editIn 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
edit| 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
edit| Clubs | City/Region | Years | Winners | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asante Kotoko | Kumasi, Ashanti Region | 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 |
| Hearts of Oak | 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 |
| Ashanti Gold[a] | Obuasi, Ashanti Region | 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2015 | 4 | 2015 |
| Accra Great Olympics | Accra, Greater Accra | 1970, 1974 | 2 | 1974 |
| Aduana Stars | Dormaa Ahenkro, Bono Region | 2009–10, 2017 | 2 | 2017 |
| Eleven Wise | Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region | 1960 | 1 | 1960 |
| Real Republicans | Accra, Greater Accra | 1962–63 | 1 | 1962–63 |
| Mysterious Dwarfs | Cape Coast, Central Region | 1967 | 1 | 1967 |
| Sekondi Hasaacas | Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region | 1977 | 1 | 1977 |
| Berekum Chelsea | Berekum, Bono Region | 2010–11 | 1 | 2010–11 |
| Legon Cities[b] | Accra, Greater Accra | 2016 | 1 | 2016 |
| Medeama | Tarkwa, Western Region | 2022–23 | 1 | 2023 |
| Samartex | Tarkwa, Western Region | 2023–24 | 1 | 2024 |
Top scorers
edit
Sponsorship
edit| 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
editNotes and references
editNotes
edit- ^ Formerly known as Obuasi Goldfields.
- ^ Formerly known as Wa All Stars FC
- ^ Abandoned on 7 June 2018 as a result of the dissolution of the GFA owing to Anas Aremeyaw Anas' investigative documentary on the body's internal corruptive operations.
- ^ Abandoned and daclared null and void as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequential impact on its football operations.
References
edit- ^ Teye, Prince Narkotu (19 February 2016). "Ghana Premier League: An Idiot's Guide". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "TeamForm League Ranking - Africa - The Latest". TeamForm. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "SuperSport not bidding for broadcast rights of Ghana Premier League". Next TV News. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Startimes Acquires Ghana Premier League Media Rights". Sport Industry South Africa. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ Tamakloe, Victor Atsu (1 July 2024). "Hindsight: What next for GPL after StarTimes deal?". MyJoyOnline.com. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ ""We did not continue our deal with StarTimes because they owe GFA close $1million" – Exco member Fred Acheampong". Kick GH. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ "StarsTimes [sic] owe GFA close to $1million – Fred Acheampong reveals". GhanaWeb. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ "StarTimes in advanced talks with GFA to return as official broadcaster of Ghana Premier League". Kick GH. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (29 August 2024). "I'm not aware of GBC TV rights deal for Ghana Premier League – Dr Randy Abbey". ModernGhana. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "GTV Sports+ secures exclusive rights to broadcast Ghana Premier League for next five seasons". Ghana Soccernet. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Coronavirus : le Championnat du Ghana annulé" [Coronavirus: Ghana Championship Cancelled]. L'Équipe. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "List of Topscorers". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Top Scorers". World Football. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ Osei Asibey, Charles (23 September 2010). "Peter Lamptey, Ghana's first 'goalking'". GhanaWeb. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ a b c 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". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ a b "'Attach former goal kings to national teams' – Choo". ModernGhana. Ghana News Agency. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "1985 FA Cup Champions: Hasmal players jubilate after 2–1 win against Asante Kotoko". Sekondi Hasaacas F.C. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ Teye, Prince Narkortu (30 March 2020). "'Rest well legend' – Ghanaians react to news of Opoku Afriyie's demise". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "Down Memory Lane – Penalty Shootout in Ghana League Started In 1989–90 Premier League". NAB Online. 26 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "2021/22 GPL: Yaw Annor nets twice to end campaign as top goalscorer". ModernGhana. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ "National Teams Sponsorships". Globacom. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ Zurek, Kweku; Neequaye, Bernard (5 February 2014). "First Capital Plus rescues Premier League with $10million sponsorship". Graphic Ghana. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ "Sports Minister hails First Capital Plus Bank for sponsoring Premier League". Ghana Soccernet. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ "First Capital Plus Bank signs up for $10m as league sponsor". Ghana Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ "GFA announces betPawa as new headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier League". Ghana Football Association. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "betPawa set to exit Ghana Premier League sponsorship deal after one year". Ghana Soccernet. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Ayamga, Emmanuel (30 November 2023). "Ghana Premier League loses headline sponsorship". Pulse Ghana. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
External links
edit- Official website
- 2023–24 league season at Soccerway
- League profile at FIFA.com (archived 7 September 2007)
- League history at RSSSF