CAF Ban: Ghana Sinks Low In Infrastructure Development
The ultimate decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ban Ghana’s famous Baba Yara Stadium has unmasked widespread infrastructure deficit that has plagued the powerful African football nation for decades.
Ghana, a powerhouse of African football, will honour its international matches in another country for the first time in its history- sparking a wave of attacks and criticism targeted at the Government and the National Sports Authority – the state agency mandated to run efficiently all assets belonging to the nation.
The four-time African champions, who have toasted the world with top class players like Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Asamoah Gyan, Reverend Osei Kofi, Andre Ayew, Stephen Appiah, Sammy Kufuor, Michael Essien, Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey amongst others over the years, are without a standard CAF/FIFA Stadium to host international matches.
While Government has been accused of splashing a staggering $4 million to cover accreditation cost for the 2023 All Africa Games hosted in Ghana, the country is years behind its competitors on the African continent in the area of infrastructure.
The country has been left in disgrace as the Ghana Football Association is left with an unpleasant task of finding a new home venue for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The state has paid lip service to renovating and improving facilities across the country – as the latest CAF ban exposes the huge infrastructure cracks in the country.
For a ruling Government that pride itself as having built multiple Astro turfs and improved infrastructure across the country, the latest decision by the continent’s governing body, makes practical nonsense of the widespread claims by party apparatchiks and apologists.
The continent’s governing body, CAF, has been left with little or no choice after they placed a ban on the venue from hosting top-tier international matches after years of neglect and outright disregard by the Government and the National Sports Authority (NSA).
This is a massive slap and blot on the country’s government for their total neglect of widespread concerns raised about the quality of the Baba Yara stadium facility.
The decision follows a series of technical infractions observed during the recent Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match between Ghana and Angola held on September 5, 2024, a statement from the Ghana FA on Tuesday read.
The primary concern raised by CAF inspectors is the subpar condition of the playing field.
The stadium, which boasts a capacity of over 40,000 spectators, witnessed significant deterioration of its pitch, including uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover.
These shortcomings prevent the stadium from meeting the required standards for hosting Category 3 international matches as per CAF regulations.
This is not the first time CAF has expressed concerns about Ghanaian stadiums.
The letter issued by CAF highlights previous warnings regarding the state of the Baba Yara Stadium, along with Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium.
The lack of alternative venues meeting CAF’s Category 3 criteria has created a predicament for the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
To address the situation, CAF has requested the GFA to identify a suitable venue outside Ghana for the upcoming Matchday 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers.
The new directive means Ghana will have to host matches abroad, as the Baba Yara Stadium failed to meet requirements.
Emphasizing the urgency of improvements, CAF has urged the Ghanaian authorities to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums to ensure compliance with their technical standards.
Beyond the immediate crisis, CAF has offered its support to Ghana in restoring its stadiums to international standards.
This support includes providing an experienced pitch consultant, specializing in major international competitions like AFCON, to offer expert guidance on the necessary renovations.
The cost of this consultancy would be borne by the GFA.
Following the completion of the renovations, CAF has committed to conducting an independent inspection at the GFA’s request and expense to reassess the Baba Yara Stadium’s suitability for future matches.
The GFA has acknowledged the situation and pledged to collaborate with the government to expedite the necessary upgrades and restore the Baba Yara Stadium to its former glory.
This development casts a shadow over Ghana’s upcoming international fixtures in October, forcing them to seek alternative venues outside the country.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), is now on a huntfor a new venue with neighbouring La Cote D’voire, Togo and the newly reconstructed TnA Stadium in the mining town of Tarkwa under scrutiny.
Source: Ghanasoccernet
