Ghana’s AFCON qualifier in danger: Baba Yara Stadium pitch at risk

A prominent football administrator, Samuel Anim Addo, has voiced strong concerns over the exposure and potential damage to the Baba Yara Stadium's pitch during a six-day religious event.

The stadium, Ghana's only approved venue for international matches, is now at risk just weeks before crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Algeria.

Last Thursday, thousands gathered for a crusade led by William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry. The decision by stadium managers to permit the organisers to erect a stage, mount canopies, and set up hundreds of seats directly on the pitch has infuriated the football community. They worry that extensive damage to the pitch could prompt the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to relocate Ghana’s AFCON qualifier on September 2 to a different country.

Mr Addo, a former member of the decision-making Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council, finds it unacceptable that the National Sports Authority (NSA), which manages state-owned stadiums, failed to ensure the pitch was properly protected.

Despite repeated calls from the football community and recent recommendations from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, the NSA neglected to implement best practices when renting out stadiums for non-sporting events such as political rallies, concerts, and religious activities.

“It’s a big disappointment,” said Mr Addo, a former member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council.

“This [protection of the pitches] has been an issue for discussion for a long time, but the National Sports Authority appears not ready to do the right thing to preserve the pitches. As a country, we must begin to sanction duty bearers to serve as a deterrent.”

The situation was exacerbated when the vehicle carrying Pastor Kumuyi and his entourage drove across the athletics tracks on the opening day of the crusade, further highlighting the disregard for the stadium’s integrity.

In February, Parliament reprimanded the former Director-General of the NSA, Prof. Peter Twumasi, for poor management of national stadiums during social events. Despite assurances that measures would be implemented to protect the pitches during non-sporting events, the recent events at Baya Yara Stadium suggest otherwise.

With Ghana’s AFCON clash with Angola barely a month away, and Nsoatreman FC set to host Chadian side Elect-Sport FC in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round on August 16, Mr Addo fears the NSA’s actions could endanger these matches if CAF deems the pitch unsuitable for international fixtures due to severe damage.

He suggests that club administrators and the FA must pressure the NSA to establish a policy for renting out stadiums and ensure proper measures are taken to protect and maintain the pitches, which require significant time and money to repair.

“Do we want to play our home matches in another country because our stadiums are unfit for international matches due to the authorities’ negligence?” questioned the president of the premier league side, Young Apostles FC.

“We invest heavily in building stadiums, but we are not protecting them for sports. We love the game, but we don’t want to protect it.”

In February, the NSA faced criticism from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee for closing the Accra Stadium for a month to host social events, including the BHIM musical concert, which resulted in significant damage to the playing field.