Chief Executive Officer of Data Bank Group, Kojo Mensah Addae, has called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports to address the current condition of the country’s stadiums in order to prevent future embarrassments.
This appeal comes in the wake of a recent decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their inspection of the Cape Coast stadium, which was intended for use by Ghana’s representatives in African football, Medeama SC and Dreams FC.
After a comprehensive evaluation by CAF, the governing body declared the Cape Coast Stadium unsuitable, shedding light on the lamentable state of stadiums in the country.
Discussing these recent developments in an interview on Happy FM Addae Mensah emphasized the need for government intervention. He stated, “The issue with stadium maintenance has consistently revolved around finances. The revenue generated from match proceeds is insufficient. Thus, I believe the government needs a backup plan to prevent further humiliation. Even the Kumasi Stadium, which has been approved for CAF games, falls short of the required standards, and this is cause for concern.”
Ghanaian football enthusiasts have expressed significant concern about the state of stadiums in the country, particularly following CAF’s verdict on the Cape Coast stadium.
As an alternative, Medeama SC and Dreams FC will now hold their CAF group stage competitions at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
The CAF Champions League group stage matches are scheduled to kick off on November 25 and 26, 2023, and conclude on March 1 and 2, 2024.