Paga Youth Movement demands apology from Aduana FC manager Takyi Arhin

The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM) has officially called for a public apology from the manager of Aduana FC, Takyi Arhin, following what the group describes as derogatory remarks directed at the town of Paga and Northern Ghana. The controversy stems from a radio discussion held on Sunyani-based Space FM, where Arhin made comments regarding Ghanaian footballer Andre Ayew. The remarks, which reportedly included disparaging references to "goat farming," have sparked significant backlash from the youth group and residents of the Upper East Region who find the comparison offensive and culturally insensitive.

According to the movement, the statements made by Arhin were not merely professional critiques of an athlete but evolved into a broader insult against the cultural and economic identity of Northern Ghana. PAYOM highlighted that the comments quickly circulated across various social and traditional media platforms, causing widespread offense to the community. The group maintains that such rhetoric is unacceptable in the context of national discourse and football management, where professionalism and respect for diverse backgrounds are expected. They argued that these comments undermine the dignity of the people from the region and promote divisive stereotypes.

The youth movement is demanding that Takyi Arhin issue a formal retraction and a public apology to the people of Paga and the wider Northern Ghanaian community to mitigate the growing tension. They emphasized that while individuals are free to express their opinions on sports and players like Andre Ayew, such opinions should not be used as a vehicle for regional profiling or tribalistic undertones. The group further called on media houses to exercise better editorial control to prevent their airwaves from being used to denigrate specific sections of the Ghanaian population, ensuring that football remains a unifying force in the country rather than a source of regional conflict.