The ministry of youth and sports in Ghana has approved the return of fans to football venues more than a year after Covid-19 pandemic ensured that football and other sports activities were conducted without fans across the country.

Ghanaian football fans will be allowed to return to the various stadia in the ongoing 2020/2021 Ghana football season as the government has lifted the ban on the playing of games behind closed doors.

Football fans were banned from attending matches in the men’s premier league, the women’s premier and the men’s division one league due to COVID-19 restrictions in February.

The various match venues will admit only 25 percent of fans with strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, a statement from Ghana’s Sports Ministry indicated. This decision comes after several deliberations with the Ghana Football Association, The National Covid-19 Task Force and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The GFA has been tasked with ensuring directives are strictly followed, with all COVID-19 protocols enforced.

The Ministry earlier in March, approved the return of fans to the various stadia, but reversed its decision before the start of the second round of the league.

According to the press release, the decision to lift the restriction comes on the back of several deliberations with the various stakeholders.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports is delighted to announce that with immediate effect, approval is granted for football fans (25%) to return to the various League centers to watch both domestic and international competitions subject to observing all the national COVID-19 protocols and the GFA Match day COVID-19 protocols ” .

The Ghana FA has issued a directive that clubs with stewards at their venues will be allowed to admit fans on match day.