Sports
Developing sports with manifestoes
Ghana must at least be at the apex of football, globally in the next decade or so, if manifestoes of the two major political parties in Ghana are anything to go by.
The elections are a little over four months away and expectedly, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) are making a lot of promises to solve problems in the sports sector that have existed for ages.
Clearly, some of these problems have just been ignored even when the two parties were in power and in good positions to address them.
The fact that solutions are now being proffered from left, right to centre suggests how important the quest to wield power is to a politician.
DrMahamuduBawumia, Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), kick-started the football played in manifestoes with the announcement to establish a Sports Development Fund to develop young talents when elected to office on December 7.
At the party’smanifesto launch at the Ghana Secondary Technical School in Takoradi, he explained how the fund would develop sports infrastructure, talents, and grassroots sports programmes, including the revival of colts football and leagues across the country.
A government under DrBawumia is also expectedto upgrade the surfaces of the football pitches in Kumasi, Accra, Cape Coast, Legon, Tamale and Essipun to meet international standards.
The NPP will also build six 5,000-seater capacity stadiums for the new regions and provide busesfor Premier League Clubs.
DrBawumia would also supervise the establishment of a Ghana School Sports Secretariat to create more opportunities for young people in sports and collaborate with international sports bodies like the NBA and NFL to make Ghana a hub for emerging sports in Africa.
He would also start an “Operation Olympics Glory” programme by dedicating resources towards the preparation and readiness of athletes towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
Few days later, NDC responded in an acrobatic style as its candidate, John DramaniMahama, pledged to undertake emergency refurbishment of pitches at the various national stadiums if it wins power in the December 7 elections.
“We’ll pursue our long-standing policy of establishing international standard stadia in all regions, build more multi-purpose sports facilities to promote regional sporting events and inter-school competition as part of our talent development policy.”
The manifesto also revealed the party’s intentions to augment the salaries of all registered footballers with additional allowances.
“We would ensure equitable investments in other national teams, such as women’s football teams, parasports teams, juvenile teams, and lesser-known sports.
“We would upgrade the UEW Sports College into a modern sports university training programmes in sports, related medicine, science, and sports management/administration at campuses around Ghana.”
These pledges may come as greatand mouthwatering news for the ‘football people’because they are geared more towards football.
It, however, leaves question marks over what would be done to bridge the huge gap between football and other sports.
Bostwana has become a model sports nation for Africa in recent times following the exploits of Lestile Tebogo at the just ended Olympic Games held in Paris.
The young athlete silenced the American and Jamaican sprinters at the showpiece, a feat he repeated at the 2024 Diamond League.
A tiny Island like St. Lucia had an athlete on the podium following an excellent performance from Julian Alfred in the female sprints.
These were gains from proper investments in sports over the years and not just football.
Upgrading our pitches, making available more playing centres, improving the league and the many others outlined by the NPP and NDC are laudable, but Ghana would be worse off if the over concentration on football does not change.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
CAF withdraws approval for Baba Yara Stadium
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has withdrawn its approval for the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, due to technical infractions, including an unsuitable playing field.
The decision was made after observations made by CAF during the recent Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match between Ghana and Angola, which was played at the Baba Yara Stadium on September 5th, 2024.
Based on these observations, it was determined that the stadium did not meet the required standards for hosting Category 3 international matches.
The CAF team identified several issues, including a playing field that was deemed unsuitable for competitive matches.
The stadium’s playing field had deteriorated significantly, with uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover.
The Baba Yara Stadium, which has a seating capacity of over 40,000, has hosted several high-profile matches in the past, including World Cup qualifiers and AFCON matches.
CAF officials expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the stadium, citing the need for Ghanaian authorities to invest in upgrading the facility to meet international standards.
A letter from CAF noted earlier concerns expressed by the continental body about the state of the playing field.
According to him, “It is important to note that, prior to the match, CAF had expressed concerns about the suitability of Baba Yara Sports Stadium for hosting top-tier international fixtures. Persistent issues at this venue, as well as others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have also been noted.”
Given the absence of any other CAF-approved Category 3 stadiums in Ghana, CAF has requested the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to select an alternative venue from among those approved by CAF outside Ghana for Matchday 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
The letter from CAF also recommended that the relevant authorities “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards.”
Additionally, CAF advised that the stadium management engage experienced companies immediately to undertake the necessary refurbishment to meet CAF/FIFA standards.
CAF expressed its commitment to supporting Ghana (through the GFA) in bringing its stadiums up to the required standards for hosting CAF/FIFA senior international matches, offering to assist by providing an international pitch consultant with experience in major international competitions, including AFCON, to offer additional expert guidance on the necessary improvements.
The cost of this support would be borne by the GFA.
CAF went on to indicate that once the needed renovation works were completed, it would, at the GFA’s request and expense, conduct an independent inspection to reassess the stadium’s suitability for future matches.
The withdrawal of approval means that Ghana will have to find alternative venues for upcoming international matches, including the AFCON qualifiers.
The Ghana Football Association has promised to work with Government to address the issues and restore the stadium to its former status.
Sports
CAF, University of Cape Town launch Football Management Executive Programme
On September 2, 2024, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the leadership of the University of Cape Town (UCT) launched the CAF Football Management Executive Programme.
This initiative aims to enhance the governance and leadership of African football by equipping administrators from CAF’s 54 Member Associations with essential skills.
The programme, which blends online and on-site learning, was unveiled at an event attended by representatives from 28 African nations.
Dr. Motsepe emphasized the critical role of education in driving excellence in football administration, stating, “Education is the foundation on which excellence is built.”
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq., and Deputy General Secretary, Ama Brobey Williams, represented Ghana at the launch.
Prosper Harrison Addo delivered a presentation on the growth of Women’s Football in West Africa, while Ama Brobey Williams spoke on making African football more sustainable and globally competitive.
This partnership marks a significant step in CAF’s commitment to empowering football administrators and advancing the future of African football.
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq., and Deputy General Secretary, Ama Brobey Williams, represented Ghana at the launch.
Prosper Harrison Addo delivered a presentation on the growth of Women’s Football in West Africa, while Ama Brobey Williams spoke on making African football more sustainable and globally competitive.
This partnership marks a significant step in CAF’s commitment to empowering football administrators and advancing the future of African football.
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