The National Sports Authority (NSA) has announced that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium is 70% prepared to host Ghana’s upcoming match against Sudan on matchday 3 of the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers in October.
This update was provided during the NSA’s appearance before the Parliamentary Select Committee for Youth, Sports, and Culture on Wednesday, September 25.
The committee, currently investigating the recent decline in Ghanaian sports, allowed the NSA to address several concerns, including public criticism over renting the stadium for church events.
Despite the backlash, the NSA defended this practice as a necessary means of generating revenue for the maintenance of the facility.
NSA Board Chairman, Seth Panwum, stated that the stadium’s pitch is undergoing extensive renovations, which are expected to be completed in time for the upcoming match.
He noted that while the progress is promising, final approval will be determined by CAF (Confederation of African Football) officials following an assessment.
Panwum also stressed the need for additional funding to maintain the stadium and disclosed that discussions are ongoing with the Minister of Finance to secure emergency funds to protect the pitch and ensure future readiness.
He acknowledged that while countries like the UK rent out stadiums such as Wembley for concerts, they invest in protective measures to preserve the pitch.
He expressed optimism that similar funding solutions could be implemented in Ghana to balance revenue generation with pitch maintenance, as gate proceeds alone are insufficient to meet operational costs.
