Over the years, Ghanaian football has been hit with several betting-related scandals, with allegations and accusations of match-fixing never too far from the domestic scene.
In May, Ashanti Gold and Inter Allies were relegated from the Ghanaian Premier League to the third tier of Ghanaian football as punishment for their extraordinary display of match-fixing at the end of last season.
The GFA found evidence of match-fixing and manipulation in its investigations, and duly punished players and officials of both teams, along with the demotion of the erring clubs to lower league football.
One would have thought the events from last season would make footballers and administrators distance themselves from the betting scene, at least for the foreseeable future, but that has not been the case.
The latest high-profile example in this troublesome association is the deal between sports betting giants, betPawa, and quite ironically, the Ghanaian Premier League.
Betpawa is now the new headline sponsor of the Ghanaian top-flight, following the announcement of the deal in August.
The three-year deal between the two parties is worth $6m.
Betpawa is not the only big-name betting site sponsoring a major Ghanaian league. The women’s top flight, the Women’s Premier League, is bankrolled by betway.
Naturally, the deals between the FA and betting companies have raised questions, with some observers contesting that it might compromise the integrity of the league, especially in the wake of recent scandals.
The football association has defiantly defended its position.
During the announcement of the betPawa deal, FA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, athat “sponsorship does not encourage negative betting”, while warning that anyone who falls foul of Ghana’s betting laws will be sanctioned.
The truth is that the Ghanaian Football officials have entered into some sort of marriage of convenience with betting companies. It has become a necessary evil for the FA.
Ghanaian football needs money, betting companies have plenty of money to spend. They are also very willing to spend a lot of it on football.
Before this betPawa sponsorship, the last major headline sponsor of the Ghanaian Premier League was Zylofon Cash- a $10m deal that was agreed in 2018 but terminated abruptly soon after.
The top-flight has been without a headline sponsor for three seasons. It would be silly of football officials not to pursue and accept these deals. The same analysis applies to the women’s league and their partnership with betway.
While there are some shady bookies on the internet, it has to be said that the GFA has chosen fairly wisely. BetPawa and Betway are two of the most trustworthy betting sites in Ghana.
Infact, betway is listed as the best betting site in the country by My Betting Sites Ghana, a globally reputed betting affiliate site.
Maybe the betting companies are not so evil after all!
Beyond the money they are directly paying for these sponsorships, these companies are also doing their fair share of Corporate Social Responsibility.
For example, betway has been regularly hosting a series of seminars to educate Footballer stakeholders in Ghana.
In the end, one cannot begrudge the GFA for joining forces with betting companies. On its path, the GFA must put in place measures to check mal-practices and ensure that all the betting rules in Ghana are followed.