Ghana Women's Premier League
The Ghana Women’s Premier League (GWPL), previously known as the National Women's League (NWL), is the top division league for women's football in Ghana. It was first launched in 2012. Contested by 18 clubs in two zones (southern and northern zone), it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Ghana Women's Division One. Seasons run from December to July with each team playing 16 matches (playing all 8 other teams in their zone both home and away). Most games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The league  is sponsored by several companies, including the official sports products sponsor Decathlon GH, Ghana’s branch of the French sports goods retailer Decathlon, and NASCO, who sponsors the match day, monthly, and annual awards. In November 2021, Hilary Boateng was appointed by the Ghana Football Association as the chairperson of the Women's Premier League Committee. History. Up to 2006 only some regional areas had active women's football leagues. In 2006, a zonal league was created, that played out a national champion for the first time. Ghana was divided into three zones that played a league stage. Each zone  then advanced two teams to a national stage. The current format was first played in 2012–13. The league is played in two divisions. After the league stage, both division winners meet in a championship final. The first final was won by Hasaacas Ladies 2–1 over Fabulous Ladies at the Accra Sports Stadium. A large part of the football equipment was sponsored by FIFA. 2012–13 founding teams. The twelve teams of the initial season were divided into two zones of six teams. 2020–present. In 2021, the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) decided to expand the League from  its current format 16 Clubs to 18 Clubs beginning from the 2021–22 season, meaning nine teams for the respective zones to allow for a minimum of 16 league matches in a season. Competition format. Competition. There are 16 clubs in the Women's Premier League, 8 in the southern zone and 8 in the northern zone. During the course of a season (from December to July) each club in each zone plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents', for 16 games in each zone making it  32 games all together. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. At the end of the zonal league both top placed clubs and zonal winners meet in a championship final to decide the national champion. Promotion and relegation. A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Premier League and the Division One League. The lowest placed teams in both zones of the  Premier League are relegated to the Division One League, and the top teams from both zones in the Championship promoted to the Premier League. The number of clubs was increased from 16 to 18 in 2021–22 season. Championship finals. The list of champions and runners-ups: "2019*** Ghana Women's Special Competition" Sponsorship. From its inception in 2012 till 2017, the league did not have a title sponsor and was referred simply to as National Women’s League. However in 2018, FreshPak, a subsidiary of Groupe Nduom, were announced as the league's first ever title sponsors. The company disclosed  a sponsorship package, worth GH¢500,000 over the next two seasons, starting from the 2018 season. Electroland Ghana Ltd, distributors of NASCO electronic appliances has been a partner and sponsor of the Women's Premier League since 2019–20 season. The company sponsors the Player of the Match award, the monthly awards which includes the Player of the month and Coach of the month awards along with the annual and end of the season awards Player of the season, Top Scorer, Discovery of the year award, Best Goalkeeper and Coach of the season awards. In October 2020, The Ghana Football Association signed  a four-year sponsorship deal with Decathlon GH, Ghana’s branch of the French sports goods retailers, Decathlon to provide footballs and sports products for the women’s premier league for the next four years starting from the 2020–21 women’s league season. Media coverage. In February 2020, the Ghana Football Association signed a broadcasting right sponsorship deal with StarTimes Television for six years starting from the 2019–20 Ghana Premier League season. As part of the deal StarTimes dedicated $100,000 in the first year as a visibility support to both the Ghana Division One League and women's football  especially the Ghana Women's Premier League. They dedicated $50,000 for the following five years. As part of the deal, StarTimes Sports and shareholders Max TV broadcast both the 2020–21 Ghana Women's Premier League Final and 2020–21 Ghana Women's FA Cup Final.