Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) told the Presidential Commission investigating the Accra Sports Stadium disaster that it is wrong for the police to carry arms to the stadium.

Led in evidence by Mr Miguel Ribeiro, counsel to the Commission, the Acting Chairman said "it is totally wrong at this age and time to carry arms to the stadium."

He also admitted under cross examination by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, President of the Ghana Medical Association that the aggregation of medical personnel at only one place at the stadium was wrong because it would deny spectators access to them.

Asked by Professor George Ofosu Amaah, a member of the commission what would be done to the Kotoko supporters and others who started the commotion, Mr Owusu Ansah said it is the practice of the GFA to investigate such incidences and sanction the club, which is found culpable.

The Acting GFA Chairman could not say which umbrella body of the football-governing house the Centre Organising Committee (CCC) belongs.

He sided with a suggestion by Professor Akosa that the CCC would perform better if it was placed under the direct supervision of the GFA because, while the Professional League Board (PLB) operates at only premier league centres, the GFA has a national representation.

Mr Owusu Ansah said he ordered the Referees Appointment Committee (RAC) to change the referee appointed for the Hearts-Kotoko match on May nine because he did not impress him when he handled a match between King Faisal and Adansiman in Kumasi earlier in the season.

He said consequently, he requested that a FIFA badged referee be put in charge of the May nine confrontation between the two most glamorous clubs in Ghana.

The Acting Chairman told the commissioners that, "as faith would have it, it was the same referee who won the lot to officiate in the match."

Earlier, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rose Kotoe, Commander of the Accra Central Division had told the commission that she received orders from Dr Kofi Kesse Manfo, an Assistant Commissioner and Greater Accra Regional Commander to detail five policemen to the Accra Sports Stadium.

She said on her own volition, she sent five men and two officers to report to Assistant Superintendent (ASP) John Naami at the stadium for briefing and deployment.

Ms Kotoe said since Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Amu Mensah reported sick later in the day only one officer in the person of ASP Frank Awu accompanied the men.

Asked why she chose a DSP to report to an ASP who is junior in rank, the Divisional Commander said the person he chose was a crime officer and she felt his presence would be relevant to the overall operations of the stadium details.

Inspector Kenneth John Awuah and Chief Inspector Nicholas Kwasi Sie both of the Armoured Cars Squadron also appeared before the commission.

Inspector Awuah said he heard CSP Nana Koranteng Mintah give orders to stop the firing of teargas. He said even though he did not know who gave the orders to start shooting he saw three ASPs, BB Bakamora, Awuh and Naami near the men who were firing.

Chief Inspector Sie told the commission that he commanded one of the Water Cannons to the stadium but did not fire any teargas, neither did he hear or see any teargas being fired.

Another policeman from the Armoured Cars Squadron, Raphael Nana Tintani a District Sergeant Major said his men fired seven canisters of teargas and used water to disperse a mob which had forced the main gate at the Conference Centre End of the stadium open during the match.

He said he gave the order to fire teargas by telling them to "clear the gate" after a message from the megaphone on the armoured vehicle failed to scare the crowd.

The commission continues sitting today.