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Emmanuel Osei Sarpong announces repairs for five national stadia
•2 min read•3 sources
The Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, has announced a comprehensive plan to renovate five national stadia to address Ghana’s ongoing venue suitability challenges. The initiative focuses on repairing the Essipong, Baba Yara (Kumasi), Aliu Mahama (Tamale), and Cape Coast stadia, alongside ongoing maintenance at the Accra Sports Stadium. This strategy is intended to ensure the country has multiple facilities capable of hosting international matches effectively.
Currently, the Accra Sports Stadium is the only venue in Ghana approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for high-level international fixtures. Professor Sarpong highlighted the importance of diversifying available venues, noting that the Essipong Stadium recently hosted its first competitive game in seven years. By restoring these facilities, the NSA aims to provide more options for the national teams and mitigate the pressure on the Accra venue, which recently hosted Ghana’s match against The Gambia.
Ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Somalia, the NSA is implementing specific pitch protection measures at the Accra Sports Stadium. These precautions are being put in place for the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD) event scheduled for November 7, 2026. The move follows previous concerns about pitch damage caused by concerts and non-sporting events, which have impacted player safety and match readiness.
Despite these efforts, the NSA faces significant pressure to improve infrastructure. Recent CAF assessments of the Accra Sports Stadium identified several issues, including corroded structures and inadequate crowd management systems. While a final decision on the venue for the Somalia qualifier remains pending—with both Accra and Essipong under consideration—the NSA’s broader goal is to ensure Ghana meets all international standards and avoids the necessity of hosting home matches in other countries.