Prominent football administrator Samuel Anim Addo has raised serious concerns about the potential damage to the Baba Yara Stadium’s pitch due to a recent six-day religious event, just weeks before crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Algeria.

The stadium, Ghana’s only approved venue for international matches, hosted a crusade led by William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, last Thursday. Thousands attended the event, and the decision by stadium managers to allow the erection of a stage, canopies, and hundreds of seats directly on the pitch has alarmed the football community. They fear extensive damage could prompt the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to relocate Ghana’s AFCON qualifier on September 2 to another country.

Mr. Addo, a former member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council, criticized the National Sports Authority (NSA) for failing to ensure the pitch was properly protected. Despite repeated calls from the football community and recent recommendations from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, the NSA neglected to implement best practices for renting out stadiums for non-sporting events such as political rallies, concerts, and religious activities.

“It’s a big disappointment,” said Mr. Addo. “This [protection of the pitches] has been an issue for discussion for a long time, but the National Sports Authority appears not ready to do the right thing to preserve the pitches. As a country, we must begin to sanction duty bearers to serve as a deterrent.”

The situation worsened when a vehicle carrying Pastor Kumuyi and his entourage drove across the athletics tracks on the opening day of the crusade, further highlighting the disregard for the stadium’s integrity.

In February, Parliament reprimanded the former Director-General of the NSA, Prof. Peter Twumasi, for poor management of national stadiums during social events. Despite assurances that measures would be implemented to protect the pitches during non-sporting events, the recent events at Baba Yara Stadium suggest otherwise.

With Ghana’s AFCON clash with Angola barely a month away, and Nsoatreman FC set to host Chadian side Elect-Sport FC in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round on August 16, Mr. Addo fears the NSA’s actions could endanger these matches if CAF deems the pitch unsuitable for international fixtures due to severe damage.

He suggests that club administrators and the FA must pressure the NSA to establish a policy for renting out stadiums and ensure proper measures are taken to protect and maintain the pitches, which require significant time and money to repair.

“Do we want to play our home matches in another country because our stadiums are unfit for international matches due to the authorities’ negligence?” questioned the president of the premier league side, Young Apostles FC. “We invest heavily in building stadiums, but we are not protecting them for sports. We love the game, but we don’t want to protect it.”

In February, the NSA faced criticism from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee for closing the Accra Stadium for a month to host social events, including the BHIM musical concert, which resulted in significant damage to the playing field.