Yaw Ampofo Ankrah questions Ghana's investment in football pitches amid Baba Yara Stadium controversy
Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has questioned Ghana's investment in football infrastructure after viral images of maintenance work at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium sparked widespread public criticism.
The former broadcaster expressed concern over the country's failure to improve and maintain quality playing surfaces despite the substantial financial rewards earned from Ghana's participation in FIFA World Cups since 2006.
His remarks follow intense debate on social media after groundsmen were photographed carrying out maintenance on the Baba Yara pitch using methods that many users described as outdated.
Addressing the controversy in a Facebook post, Ampofo Ankrah defended the work being undertaken, insisting that no qualified expert had criticised the techniques being used.
"The method, the mode that was captured, that has gone viral, that everybody’s talking about, and even some are coming up with incredible theories and all manner of things," he shared on Facebook.
He noted that while there is broad agreement on the need for more modern equipment, the criticism should focus on investment rather than the workers carrying out the maintenance.
"Thankfully, so far, not one single expert, that is whether horticulturalists or agriculturalists or anybody, pitch expert, has come out to say actually what they were doing on that pitch was wrong. What they’re saying is that we need to get better modern tools, and I totally agree.
Ampofo Ankrah suggested the viral footage was shared to provoke public outrage but said it had also reignited an important conversation about the country's priorities.
"But the reality is what we’ve seen, albeit somebody mischievously captured and put it on social media, obviously intending to cause harm and anger or rage or whatever you want to call it.
"Maybe that has worked to an extent, but what it has also done is to open up that debate again as to what on earth are we investing monies we get from the World Cup in from 2006 to 2026."
Meanwhile, the National Sports Authority has explained that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium pitch has gradually become infested with invasive weeds and undesirable grass species since it was regrassed six years ago.
According to the Authority, although routine weed control has been undertaken over the years, the current off-season presents the best opportunity to carry out a comprehensive renovation aimed at restoring a healthy and uniform natural grass surface.
The NSA said the maintenance programme includes selective weed control using approved herbicides, mowing the grass to the recommended height, manually removing weeds, applying carefully selected alluvial sand to improve drainage and level the surface, and reseeding renovated sections of the pitch.