By: Nana Kwame Bediako
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken swift action in response to the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) recent ban of the Baba Yara Stadium. In a directive issued to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Ministry has requested an inspection of the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana (UG) Stadium for approval as Category 3 match venues.
The announcement was made public in a statement released on Thursday, September 12, 2024, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The Ministry acknowledged the communiqué from CAF, which raised concerns about the state of the pitch at Baba Yara Stadium, leading to its disqualification for hosting CAF Category 3 matches. In response, the stadium has been closed for maintenance work following Ghana’s 2025 AFCON qualifier match against Angola.
In the statement, the Ministry emphasised its proactive steps to resolve the issue by directing the National Sports Authority (NSA) to address the pitch problems. Additionally, the GFA has been instructed to expedite the inspection process for the Accra Sports Stadium and the newly-built UG Stadium. The Ministry is optimistic that these venues will meet CAF’s stringent requirements and be approved for Category 3 matches.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports further stated that the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana Sports Stadium have undergone significant improvements since their last inspection, with most of the issues identified by CAF already resolved and asking the GFA to contact CAF for inspection and possible approval.
