The Ministry of Youth and Sports has formally directed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to request an inspection from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the University of Ghana Stadium.
This move comes after CAF revoked the Baba Yara Stadium’s approval as a Category 3 venue, citing concerns with the pitch’s condition.
The Baba Yara Stadium has been a key venue for Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, and will continue to host matches until the 2025 AFCON qualifier against Angola. After this match, the stadium has been closed down for necessary refurbishments to address the issues raised by CAF.
In the meantime, the Ministry is pushing for alternative venues and has highlighted both the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana Stadium as potential replacements for upcoming international fixtures, including a Black Stars match in October.
The Accra Sports Stadium has resolved many of the issues identified by CAF in prior inspections, and the University of Ghana Stadium, which has already hosted CAF Category 2 matches, is awaiting approval for Category 3 status.
The Ministry remains confident that both venues will meet the requirements set by CAF’s Stadium Regulations following inspections. Furthermore, the Ministry reiterated its commitment to upgrading all national stadia to ensure they meet CAF standards for future competitions.
This directive underscores the Ministry’s resolve to ensure that Ghana continues to host international matches despite ongoing renovations at major venues.