John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for the 2024 Ghana Presidential Elections, has harshly criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s performance in the sports sector. During a rally in the Greater Accra Region, Mahama expressed his disappointment after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) withdrew its approval for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi to host Category 3 games, citing Ghana’s lack of a suitable 30,000-seat venue for international matches.

This ruling means Ghana’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Sudan will be held in Togo or Côte d’Ivoire. Mahama labeled the situation “embarrassing,” especially considering the government’s significant expenditure on stadium renovations ahead of the 2023 African Games. He further questioned the $85 million spent on rehabilitating stadiums and the alleged $15 million spent on feeding athletes during the Games, calling the expenses shocking.