The Ghana Football Association (GFA) says its stadium inspection process is designed to ensure venues meet the required safety standards before they are allowed to host competitive matches.
GFA Club Licensing Manager Esme Mends said stadiums and training facilities are assessed as part of the association’s club licensing process, with the safety of players, spectators and other matchday stakeholders among the main priorities.
“Under the infrastructure, we inspect the stadium and training facilities. We do it because we have to make sure the stadium and pitches the game is played on are safe enough for the spectators, players, and everyone who attends the matchday,” Mends told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.
The inspection process is carried out in two stages, with clubs given an opportunity to address any shortcomings identified during the initial assessment.
According to Mends, the first inspection is used to establish the condition of a facility and identify areas that require attention. Clubs are then given deadlines within which they must complete the necessary improvements.
“The inspection is done twice. The first round is done to assess the state of the facility, and a deadline is given to finish the necessary corrections,” he explained.
A second inspection is subsequently conducted to determine whether the outstanding issues have been resolved.
Mends said venues that fail to meet the requirements by the specified deadline are not immediately approved, although clubs can be given additional time to complete the necessary work before the league begins.
“The second inspection is the final one, so when we come and the corrections haven’t been done by the deadline, then we do not approve for the time being, and they are given more time to complete them before the league starts,” he said.
The process has led to several notable venues being left off the list of approved facilities for the upcoming season.
However, Mends stressed that a venue’s initial omission should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment from the club concerned.
He instead praised clubs for increasingly embracing the club licensing system and making efforts to understand and satisfy the requirements.
“I wish we would applaud the clubs. They have really bought into the club licensing world,” Mends said.
He noted that club officials, including presidents, have become more proactive in engaging with the licensing department when they need clarification or assistance with specific requirements.
“Sometimes the club president calls and prompts you to come or explain certain criteria to them. They have bought into it, and they really want to improve,” he added.
Mends also revealed that some venues which initially failed to receive approval were later cleared after the necessary improvements had been completed.
He expressed confidence that a significant number of the outstanding Premier League venues would meet the required standards either before the start of the season or shortly after the opening fixtures.
“I believe, before the start of the season or even after the first league games, we have most of the Premier centres we haven’t approved for now approved,” Mends said.
The GFA’s licensing process is therefore expected to continue as clubs work to bring their stadiums and training facilities up to the required standards ahead of the new campaign.
