Prof. Peter Twumasi, Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has stood by the decision to halt football activities at state-owned stadiums for non-sporting events, asserting that it’s a common practice aimed at revenue generation for the authority.
The move faced backlash in December when football activities were suspended at the Accra Sports Stadium to accommodate musical concerts, drawing criticism from various quarters.
However, Prof. Twumasi clarified that the decision was vital to maintain and upgrade the facilities, ensuring their sustainability.
He explained that hosting non-sporting events helps the authority turn a profit, part of which is allocated to pitch maintenance and repair.
While acknowledging concerns about the impact on sports development, Prof. Twumasi underscored the importance of balancing revenue generation with sports promotion.
He assured stakeholders that thorough inspections are conducted post-events to ensure the pitch’s restoration to its original state. An inspection on January 9 confirmed the completion of the restoration process.
Prof. Twumasi reiterated the NSA’s commitment to sports development while emphasizing the necessity of hosting non-sporting events to generate revenue for facility maintenance and upgrades.