National Sports Authority (NSA) Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has raised concerns over Ghana’s continued struggle to maintain quality football pitches, questioning the country’s investment priorities after viral images of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium playing surface sparked public debate.
The images, which showed groundsmen working on the pitch using traditional maintenance methods, generated widespread reactions online, with some critics questioning the condition of one of Ghana’s most important football venues.
However, Ampofo Ankrah believes the controversy should lead to a bigger conversation about the long-term investment Ghana has made in football infrastructure.
He questioned how the country has utilised financial benefits from its participation at the FIFA World Cup since 2006, arguing that more resources should have been directed towards building and maintaining world-class playing surfaces.
“What on earth are we investing the monies we get from the World Cup on from 2006 to 2026?” Ampofo Ankrah questioned.
The NSA boss defended the work being carried out at Baba Yara Stadium, insisting that no recognised pitch expert has declared the maintenance process inappropriate.
He explained that while the methods captured in the viral images may have attracted criticism, the bigger issue is Ghana’s need to adopt more modern technology and equipment for pitch management.
“Thankfully, so far, not one single expert, whether horticulturalists, agriculturalists or pitch experts, has come out to say what they were doing on that pitch was wrong. What they are saying is that we need better modern tools, and I totally agree,” he said.
According to the NSA, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium surface has experienced challenges since it was regrassed six years ago, with invasive weeds and unwanted grass species affecting the quality of the pitch.
The Authority explained that the current off-season period provides the best opportunity to carry out a complete renovation programme to restore a healthier and more consistent natural grass surface.
The renovation process includes:
- Selective weed control using approved herbicides
- Reducing the grass height through controlled mowing
- Manual removal of unwanted weeds
- Application of carefully selected alluvial sand to improve drainage and surface levels
- Re-seeding damaged areas to restore grass coverage
The NSA insists the exercise forms part of a planned preventive maintenance strategy aligned with international standards for natural grass pitch management.
Ampofo Ankrah believes the Baba Yara debate should serve as a wake-up call for Ghana to invest more seriously in sports infrastructure, ensuring that the country’s stadiums meet the standards required for international competitions.
