Statement: Sports Council explains Baba Yara Stadium floodlights failure

POWER FAILURE AT THE BABA YARA SPORTS STADIUM DURING THE GHANA VRS LESOTHO MATCH.

The National Sports Authority regrets the unfortunate incident which occurred during the football match between Ghana's Black Stars and the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

However, we would like to assure the general public that due diligence was done to ensure an incident free match. The power failure was therefore due to an electrical system failure which was beyond our control.

The Director General of the National Sports Authority, Mr. Worlanyo Agra paid a working visit to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on 23rd May 2012 to inspect the facility and ensure that all facilities were in very good working condition prior to the football match and also seized the opportunity to welcome cyclists on Tour du Ghana who had arrived from Buipe in the Northern Region.

Various tests were conducted on the floodlights from Monday 28th May 2012 till Friday 1st June 2012.

Friendly matches between the Black Stars and two local teams, namely; Envoys FC and Deportivo FC were played under floodlights on Wednesday 30th May 2012 as part of the test runs.

On Thursday 31st May 2012, the Black Stars training session took place, again under floodlights, and in the presence of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Match Commissioner, and other state dignitaries.

Even on the Day of the match, Friday 1st June 2012, the floodlights were tested for two hours prior to the match, as directed by the Director General of the National Sports Authority, which is indicative of due diligence, to ensure an accident-free football match.

Towards the end of the first half, the flood lights were switched on to illuminate the playing field, but unfortunately, the floodlights which were on throughout , suddenly went off, ten minutes into the second half.

A quick investigation at the power house revealed that the alternator of the generating system had failed, and engineers from Consar Ghana Limited, Electricity Company of Ghana (E.C.G) and the National Sports Authority worked frantically to restore power within the timeframe given by the match commissioner.

The incident is very much regretted , and investigations are ongoing to forestall any possible future occurrence.

ISSUED BY:
THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
NATIONAL SPORTS AUTHORITY.