Kotoko fan stabbing: Stadium ban will hurt Nsoatre’s economy, says Traditional Council

The Nsoatre Traditional Council has expressed deep concern over the economic impact of the ban placed on the Nsoatreman FC stadium following the tragic stabbing of a Kotoko fan, Francis Frimpong aka Nana Pooley.

The council says the stadium closure and sanctions on the club will have devastating effects on the livelihoods of many residents some of whom, rely on the economic activity generated by football matches.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (5 February), Nana Hinney Marfo, the Dabehene of Nsoatre Traditional Council told the host Kweku Nhyira Addo that Nsoatre is largely an agrarian community with over 35,000 people occupying its stool lands.

The ban, he argued, will not only hurt the club but also disrupt businesses and daily earnings for traders, food vendors, and other stakeholders.

“Those of us who were at the stadium saw that the stadium turned into a brisk business. The economy was received a boost. When we heard that Nsoatreman FC had been banned and the stadium venue had also been banned, we knew this would affect the economy of Nsoatre. Most of the people here are farmers, and football brings opportunities that help sustain local businesses,” Hinney Marfo stated.

“We cannot allow this incident to destroy our town’s progress. Football is a key part of our community, and we must find a way forward without jeopardizing livelihoods,” the chief added.

Stool rites

The council also stressed their commitment to ensuring justice for the slain fan, vowing that if the suspect is not arrested by Friday, they will be forced to enter the stool room and perform traditional rites.

Nana Hinney Marfo further reassured the public that efforts were being intensified to apprehend the suspect, who is believed to be from Berekum rather than Nsoatre.

“We assure the general public that we are working to ensure that the suspect will be arrested. If by Friday he is not arrested, Nananom will enter the stool room and perform some rites,” Hinney Marfo declared.

“Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect is not from Nsoatre but rather from Berekum. Local searches are underway, and authorities are confident that he will be apprehended soon”, he further disclosed.

Arrests

Meanwhile, two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the violent clash, bringing the total number of arrests to five.

He emphasised that the police are actively pursuing additional suspects linked to the murder to ensure they face justice.

The Ghana Police Service subsequently released a statement shortly after the IGP’s media encounter. The statement named the two suspects as Isaac Ofosu and Yeboah Augustine.

“Intelligence-led operation is still ongoing to get the rest of the perpetrators arrested to face justice”, the police statement indicated.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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