The use of new media has become a blatant part of the everyday life of human beings. A new media application or two occupies the screens of millions of smart phone or device users. Twitter also known as “the bird app” is one of the mostly used social media applications currently. Twitter operates as an open platform for posting, sharing, likes and follow. Users are able to create an account, and use it for their preferred purposes bounded by the application rules.

The growing sphere of football carries along the use of new media, especially twitter. National teams, clubs, players, coaches and fans have taken advantage of the use of social media to promote themselves. On twitter, they do live text commentary, match announcement, new signing announcement and mainstream two-way communication. According to Lewis Wiltshire, Twitter’s head of sports for UK and Europe, various brands should take inspiration from successful strategies teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have used on the site. It is evident that other football and non-football organizations are adapting to the branding on twitter, creating accounts on this platform thereof.

This is no different in Ghana as clubs such as Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, Legon Cities, Great Olympics, Nsoatreman F.C and many more have active accounts on twitter, which means they are harnessing the new media. These are men clubs. The question is then asked, are the women football clubs also harnessing the new media. The Ghanaian Women’s League have known to be underreported over the years, but has gained some attention now even though in a slow build up, and the use of new media has been the carrier.

In an interview with Mr. Francis Ofori of Ghana News Agency who covers most of the women’s league matches, women’s football in Ghana has really gained its feet compared to the past. According to Mr. Ofori, this is as a result of the GFA’s involvement in developing the sport and also the various teams in the women’s league use of social media to sell themselves. The likes of Hassacas Ladies and Ampem Darkoa Ladies have been one of the fastest growing teams in Ghana in terms of performance and popularity, the later as a result of social media. “Some say football is business and I strongly believe because some teams are able to attract foreign investors and foreign teams”.

The use of social media such as twitter has attracted advocates like Enarya (@iamowusuaa) in championing the course of women football. Articles about Ghanaian women’s football are written and published more now as compared to some years ago. Ampem Darkoa Ladies, Hassacas Ladies, Army Ladies, Police Ladies, Pearlpia Ladies, Fabulous ladies are some of the Ghanaian football clubs who are making use of new media (twitter).

It is important to note that Ghanaian football clubs need to intensify the use of new media in a positive trajectory to be able to market their brand, and for Ghana as a whole.

By: Louis Nana Bekoe Darko

BACS231219

Ghana Institute of Journalism

Bekoenana3830@gmail.com

source: of the attached picture: @Hassacasladies twitter