Young Apostles break silence over Collins Atta Poku stadium controversy

The club says the Aduana FC official was directed to use the designated entrance for the VIP section after attempting to gain access through an unauthorised point.

In a statement issued on Monday, 12 October, Young Apostles described claims circulating on social media as misleading and maintained that its officials made several attempts to facilitate Atta Poku's entry into the VIP area.

The controversy emerged after Aduana FC's chief executive shared photographs online following his club's 1-0 defeat by Young Apostles. The images prompted claims that he had been denied access to the stadium.

Young Apostles, however, insisted that the situation resulted from the enforcement of established security procedures rather than any deliberate attempt to exclude the visiting club's representative.

The club also disputed suggestions that Aduana FC supporters had been treated poorly, saying it had provided hospitality to fans who travelled to watch the match.

“Mr Poku subsequently chose, of his own volition, to remain outside the stadium and later shared photographs that create a false impression of exclusion,” the statement said.

Young Apostles expressed regret that the dispute had drawn attention away from what it described as a welcoming atmosphere at its home venue.

It also urged football stakeholders to avoid sharing information it considers misleading and damaging to the club's reputation.

According to Young Apostles, Atta Poku's access to the VIP section was subject to the same security arrangements governing entry to the designated area.

The club said the Aduana FC CEO attempted to enter through an entrance that was not authorised for VIP access. He was subsequently directed to the appropriate point, where he could enter in line with the established protocols.

Young Apostles maintained that its management did not seek to prevent the visiting club's chief executive from attending the match.

Instead, the club said its officials made several efforts to assist him and personally invited him to join the VIP section.

It added that Atta Poku declined those offers and decided to remain outside the stadium.

The explanation was issued in response to public discussion generated by photographs shared online after the encounter. Those images prompted allegations that the Aduana FC official had been deliberately excluded from the venue.

Young Apostles rejected that interpretation, arguing that the photographs presented an inaccurate account of what had happened.

The club's statement sought to clarify its position and defend the actions of its management and security personnel during the match.

The dispute arose after Young Apostles secured a 1-0 win over Aduana FC in their Ghana Premier League meeting on Sunday.

Although the result gave the home side victory on the pitch, the subsequent discussion surrounding Atta Poku's reported difficulty accessing the stadium shifted attention towards the arrangements for officials and spectators.

Photographs of the Aduana FC CEO circulated on social media, prompting claims that he had been denied entry.

Young Apostles said those allegations did not accurately reflect the circumstances, insisting that the issue concerned the use of the designated entrance rather than a decision to bar him from the stadium.

The club's response also sought to separate the access dispute from the treatment of Aduana FC's travelling supporters.

It said fans who made the journey to watch their team had received hospitality, rejecting suggestions that visiting supporters were subjected to poor treatment.

The statement did not accept the claims that the club had deliberately created an unwelcoming environment for its opponents or their representatives.

Instead, Young Apostles maintained that its approach was guided by established security procedures and that the controversy had misrepresented the atmosphere at the venue.

Young Apostles said it regretted that the incident had overshadowed what it described as a welcoming matchday environment.

The club's management urged those involved in Ghanaian football to exercise caution before circulating information about incidents at matches, particularly where the claims could affect the reputation of clubs and their officials.

It argued that the allegations circulating online risked creating a misleading impression of the circumstances surrounding Atta Poku's presence outside the stadium.

By issuing its statement, Young Apostles sought to provide its account of the incident and explain why the Aduana FC CEO had been directed to another entrance.

The club maintained that its officials had attempted to facilitate his entry and that he had been invited to join the VIP section before choosing to remain outside.

The dispute highlights how incidents away from the pitch can become a source of public debate following Ghana Premier League fixtures, particularly when photographs and claims circulate rapidly on social media.

For Young Apostles, the priority was to counter allegations it believes could damage its standing and clarify its position on the security arrangements in place during Sunday's match.

The club reiterated its rejection of claims that Atta Poku was deliberately denied access and called on football stakeholders to refrain from spreading information it considers misleading.

Its statement leaves the matter framed around competing public perceptions of the incident, with Young Apostles insisting that the situation arose from the enforcement of stadium access procedures rather than an attempt to exclude the Aduana FC chief executive.