The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, declaring it currently unfit to host any form of competitive football.
Ampofo Ankrah, accompanied by NSA officials in Kumasi, conducted an inspection of the facility on Thursday.
Addressing the media afterward, the seasoned broadcaster turned sports administrator painted a grim picture of the stadium’s playing surface, blaming both human neglect and recent adverse weather conditions.
“The state of the pitch at the moment, well yeah, you can see it – you cannot even play colts football on the pitch. The weather, which is a natural source, has not been too favourable in this part of the country over the past few weeks,” he explained.
He further revealed that Asante Kotoko had formally requested to use the stadium as their home ground for the 2025/26 season, but stressed that approval would depend on whether the venue meets the required standards.
“Kotoko officially wrote to us just over a week ago. They wish to use this venue, but like we can all see, we need to make sure everything is in perfect condition before that can be done,” Ampofo Ankrah said.
To address the issue, the NSA has engaged a team of turf management experts, including academic and agronomy professionals such as “Doc” from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Frank Boahin, to assess the damage and advise on a realistic recovery plan.
“If the pitch can be resuscitated in the next few weeks, it is possible, but I cannot sit here and guarantee that. That is why we’ve brought in experts with years of experience so we give the right information, not speculation,” he said.
He stressed the urgency of the situation and called for coordinated efforts to ensure the pitch is ready in time.
“We need to put our act together, join forces, and make sure it happens. The experts have given us a timeline, and we must work hard to meet or even beat that deadline,” he concluded.
Failure to restore the Baba Yara Stadium in time could force Asante Kotoko and fellow Ghana Premier League side Bibiani GoldStars to seek alternative venues for their upcoming CAF inter-club competitions.
