Many have voiced out towards renting out the nationwide stadiums for live shows, church rallies, and different non-sporting actions, majorly as a result of the pitches undergo severely afterward.
Nonetheless, over time, these calls have fallen on the deaf ears of authorities with the Nationwide Sports activities Authority (NSA) arguing and making an attempt their easiest to justify these actions.
The usage of stadiums for live shows is a worldwide apply however within the absence of protecting gear like pitch covers, it turns into a self-sabotaging transfer of destroying the nationwide stadiums.
And taking excessive measures corresponding to shutting down stadiums to money out from these live shows to the detriment of the amenities speaks volumes about what’s unsuitable about Ghana’s upkeep tradition.
Benjamin Azamati qualifies for the 2025 World Athletics Championships with a 9.98s run, following within the footsteps of Ghana’s 4×100 relay crew.
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In December 2023, the NSA introduced closing the Accra Sports activities Stadium to soccer matches to hire it out for Christmas live shows as a substitute. A ridiculous choice that may at all times be a laughable transfer irrespective of the thousand and one causes channeled out in protection.
After one such live performance, footages confirmed the pitch in a dilapidated state with the grass wanting pale and gray. Making it unplayable for a very long time.
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Previous NSA administrations have claimed to make use of the funds generated to keep up these amenities however anybody who has been to those stadiums is aware of that’s removed from the reality.
Generated funds aren’t accounted for
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In actual fact, throughout a Public Accounts Committee sitting in February 2024, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, disclosed that dancehall artiste Stonebwoy paid an quantity of GH₵ 169,000 to safe the Accra Sports activities Stadium for his Bhim Live performance in December 2023.
This revelation contradicted the sooner declare made by the NSA, stating that Stonebwoy paid solely GH₵ 70,000 for the venue.
As to what occurred to different charges collected by the Authority for varied live shows over time, nobody actually is aware of.
Live shows at stadiums destruct pitches
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However one factor is obvious, there’s little to nothing these amenities have benefitted from internet hosting a number of live shows bar their gradual destruction. The brand new NSA administration led by Yaw Ampofo Ankrah can’t repeat the errors of previous administrations.
Therefore, it’s refreshing to notice that sports activities have been prioritised for a while now on these amenities, particularly on the Accra Sports activities Stadium.
NSA should stand agency, outcomes are evident
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The outcomes have been evident; the Accra Sports activities Stadium pitch has drastically improved and plenty of soccer followers would agree it’s resulting from revamped upkeep works, not forgetting much less stress resulting from no live shows on the stadium.
Even Black Stars players have testified to this effect. Elisha Owusu expressed satisfaction with the enjoying floor in a media interview after the crew’s first coaching session on Monday, October 7, 2024, simply earlier than they took on Sudan on the similar venue on Thursday, October 10, 2024. He shared:
It was good, I cannot deceive you; the pitch was fairly good. And we had an incredible coaching immediately, so we’re actually completely satisfied that everyone is doing their factor to assist us play higher soccer.
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A rustic like Ghana shouldn’t be cornered by a CAF ban once more earlier than staple items like pitch upkeep are prioritised.
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It’s attending to mid-year, however when the end-of-year festive season comes knocking, the NSA should not give in to the momentary advantage of cashing out by renting out the stadiums for musical live shows if protecting gear continues to be unavailable.
