[ 2016-05-30 ]

GN Bank Suspends Division One League Sponsorship
The Chairman of the Groupe Nduom Dr. Papa Nduom
has directed GN Bank to withdraw its sponsorship
for the country’s Division One league citing
indiscipline on the part of officials and fans.

According to him, GN Bank cannot be associated
with lawlessness as in the case where the coach
of the Elmina Sharks FC was beaten mercilessly by
supporters of opposing teams in Sekondi.

“We need discipline in football just as we need
it in our national life. We will not condone or
reward illegality and indiscipline. We cannot
achieve excellence without discipline. Our company
cannot be associated with the indiscipline,
intimidation of opponents and wanton disregard for
human life and valuable property being displayed
by team officials and their supporters across the
Division One League.”, he said.

The Message of Dr. Nduom was contained in a
facebook post. Read Full Details Below;

I AM ASKING GN BANK TO SUSPEND ITS SPONSORSHIP OF
THE DIVISION ONE LEAGUE

I am asking asking the management of GN Bank to
suspend its sponsorship of the Division One League
when it reaches the mid point of the current
schedule of matches. Our company cannot be
associated with the indiscipline, intimidation of
opponents and wanton disregard for human life and
valuable property being displayed by team
officials and their supporters across the Division
One League.

Yesterday, the coach of the Elmina Sharks FC was
beaten mercilessly and could have been killed by
supporters of opposing teams in Sekondi. Players
and officials have gone through similar incidents
in Bibiani and other League venues. In the case of
the Bibiani incident, the referee in his own
report stated that he delayed the end of the match
long enough to award a penalty to the home team
because he was afraid for his life. I am informed
that the GFA is standing on a technicality to
allow the home team to keep the points it gained
this way.

We need discipline in football just as we need it
in our national life. We will not condone or
reward illegality and indiscipline. We cannot
achieve excellence without discipline.

The GFA must act positively now. Or the suspension
will turn into complete stoppage of sponsorship.

For the records, I reproduce what I wrote in
August 2015:

“Football Match – Sharks Versus Dwarfs – we
deserve better than this!

Just came back from a football match and
unfortunately, stone throwing, insults and
intimidation marred the beauty of it.

It started before the match began. I greeted
Sharks fans and walked over to greet Dwarfs fans.
Dwarfs’ fans greeted me with boos, insults and
threw stones at me in the Stadium our Groupe Nduom
company built in Elmina. During the match these
fans broke through the perimeter fence and had to
be chased away by the police. Some of them did the
usual, tried to turn this into an NDC versus PPP
affair. Why would a healthy competition turn this
way? The GFA must discipline the league and the
participants. Otherwise, why would anyone want to
sponsor a team to play in the First Division
League and why should I encourage GN Bank to
continue to sponsor the league?

The match ended in a draw. But for the stones and
chairs thrown and bad behavior, this would have
been a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of good
football played by two good teams. Thousands of
people from and Elmina and Cape Coast deserve
better than this.”

Papa Kwesi Nduom

Source - Ultimate1069.com

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