'Accra Sports Stadium has engineering problems, but we cannot demolish it' – Prof. Sarpong

The acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, says engineering defects are behind the challenges facing the Accra Sports Stadium, with the authority assessing whether to renovate the facility or build a new one.

Prof. Osei Sarpong said the NSA was working to identify and address problems at the stadium, while acknowledging that the necessary repairs would have to be carried out in stages.

His comments follow concerns about the safety and condition of the facility after former NSA Board Chairman Prof. Fred Awaah described it as a ‘death trap’ on August 29.

Prof. Awaah had also suggested that the stadium would have been demolished if the authority had the power to make that decision.

However, speaking to Citi Sports, Prof. Osei Sarpong defended the facility's importance and said the authority was considering the most suitable long-term solution to its problems.

“For me, Accra Sports Stadium is a very good place. We have an engineering problem and so that is one of the things we are looking at, but we cannot fix everything at a go. We will explore the options to determine whether renovation or building a new stadium would be the best solution,” he said.

The acting director general explained that the NSA was concentrating on identifying the stadium's deficiencies and determining which areas required immediate attention.

He said the authority needed to address urgent issues to ensure sporting activities could continue while it examined the future of the ageing facility.

Although a complete overhaul or replacement remains under consideration, Prof. Osei Sarpong stressed that the stadium could not simply be taken out of service while the authority explored its options.

“In the interim, we cannot break Accra Sports Stadium down. So we need to look at the gaps one after the other, solve them gradually until we are sure the majority of the gaps are,” he added.

His remarks indicate that the NSA intends to pursue a gradual approach to tackling the stadium's problems rather than attempting to resolve every defect at once.

Among the concerns identified by the acting director general are insufficient water storage facilities and ageing pipes that continue to deteriorate.

He said the stadium's age and location near the sea were contributing factors to some of the infrastructure problems.

“I expected a big stadium like this to have an underground tank, but it was built several years ago. The pipes keep wearing out because of its proximity to the sea.”

The comments highlight the maintenance challenges associated with a facility constructed several decades ago, particularly as its infrastructure continues to require attention.

Prof. Osei Sarpong did not indicate when a final decision would be made on whether the stadium should undergo extensive renovation or be replaced with a new structure.

For now, the authority is expected to continue identifying and addressing the defects in stages while assessing the options available for the stadium's long-term future.

Despite the concerns over its condition, the acting director general emphasised the facility's continuing importance to Ghanaian football.

The Accra Sports Stadium remains particularly significant because it is currently the only field in Ghana accredited by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), according to Prof. Osei Sarpong.

That status makes the facility an important venue for the country's football activities, even as questions persist about its infrastructure and the need for improvements.

The NSA must therefore balance the immediate need to address the stadium's defects with the wider question of how best to provide a suitable facility for Ghanaian sport in the years ahead.

While the possibility of a new stadium remains open, Prof. Osei Sarpong's comments suggest that the existing venue will continue to be assessed and repaired as the authority considers its next steps.