The Vice President and flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has admitted that maintaining football pitches in Ghana is a significant issue.
He made this remark while speaking at a meet-the-press session in Accra on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
At the moment, the Baba Yara Stadium remains the only stadium fit to host CAF and FIFA-sanctioned games.
However, Dr Bawumia emphasized the need for professional expertise in pitch management, suggesting that experts should be brought into Ghana to manage and train locals in pitch maintenance.
He shared his insights from a recent meeting with the Black Stars in Kumasi, where the team expressed their need for high-quality playing surfaces.
“One of the problems we have is the lack of maintenance of our pitches. I met with the Black Stars in Kumasi before their last game there,” he said.
“When we met, the coach and the players were very clear about what they really needed. This is why I’ve included it in our manifesto: an international standard pitch. The pitches we currently have are difficult to play on.
“We need international standard pitches, and this is stated in the manifesto. I believe we need professional management to maintain these pitches. We also need to train people and bring in experts in pitch maintenance,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Baba Yara Stadium will host Ghana v Angola in their Group F opener of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.