This follows his comments indicating that the Baba Yara Stadium was to be closed to sporting activities on Saturdays, to make way for funerals and other social activities. This he said was a viable way of raising adequate funds to maintain the facility which is fast deteriorating.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gE1cGmcBD0cbaubtKFqZEG6fHrZDXNva”]In a statement signed by Deputy Sports Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, Joshua Mensah will be made to explain why “he should not be sanctioned for making public comments of such serious nature without authorization.”

Mr. Mensah had received a lot of backlash after he indicated to journalists that, it had become necessary to rent the stadium out for funerals and other social activities to enable them to raise funds to maintain the fast-deteriorating facility.

Mr. Mensah at the time, also revealed that his decision had the backing of the Director General of the NSA, Robert Sarfo Mensah, a claim that was subsequently denied by the Director.

Contradictions from authority

The Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah, said no official directive was given to reserve the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi for funerals.

Mr. Sarfo Mensah however admitted that, some unofficial discussions had taken place on the matter and that the Authority had considered the move.

Poorly maintained Baba Yara stadium fast deteriorating

These developments came on the back of Citi News report exposing how sections of the stadium have almost been turned into a dump site with broken seats and stained bathrooms combining to give the stadium a generally repulsive smell.

It is currently Ghana’s largest stadium with a seating capacity of 40,528.

However, its current state is one of a terribly maintained facility that lacks the capacity to be described as a standard sporting facility.

The stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) in 1957, and inaugurated as a designated football pitch in 1959.

Its stands were constructed in 1971 before the entire stadium was rebuilt in 1977. In 2004 under President John Agyekum Kufuor, it was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer, Baba Yara.

The last major work on the facility was in 2008 ahead of Ghana’s hosting of the CAN 2008 tournament.

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By: Bobbie Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post A/Region Sports Authority boss faces Sports Minister today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement signed by Deputy Sports Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, Joshua Mensah will be made to explain why “he should not be sanctioned for making public comments of such serious nature without authorization.”

Mr. Mensah had received a lot of public backlash after he indicated to journalists that, it had become necessary to rent the stadium out for funerals and other social activities to enable them raise funds to maintain the fast-deteriorating facility.

“Let me be honest with you, no football match will be allowed at the Baba Yara stadium henceforth because we don’t make enough money from the matches to maintain the facility and so henceforth the stadium will be given out on Saturdays for only funerals and other social activities,” he said.

Mensah also revealed that, his decision had the backing from the Director General of the NSA, Robert Sarfo Mensah.

“Even my National director is happy with the decision I have taken here. If we are not careful, we will one day be met with news of the closure of the Stadium for the lack of proper maintenance”.

Following the public outcry, the Director General of the NSA, Robert Sarfo Mensah, rejected the claims by his subordinate.

“Officially, the NSA has not taken any decision to ban football matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. That is on record… no such decision has been made official so I call on all sports-loving Ghanaians and football lovers, the people who patronize our facilities on Saturdays, to disregard the directive. It is not official.”

See full statement below:

RE: BAN ON SATURDAY MATCHES AT BABA YARA SPORTS STADIUM 

It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, certain comments and suggestions made by the Regional Director of the National Sports Authority  (NSA), Ashanti Region to the effect that the Baba Yara Stadium may soon be closed to sporting activities on Saturdays in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi. 

This has generated some disquiet and apprehension. 

Whiles I commend the D-G of the NSA for swift reaction in indicating that no such decision has been made and approved, I have directed that the Regional Director be invited immediately to Accra to explain why he should not be sanctioned for making public comments of such serious nature without authorization.

Signed

Pius Enam Hadzide 

Deputy Minister

Poorly maintained Baba Yara stadium fast deteriorating

This comes on the back of a report by Citi News’ Hafiz Tijani who reported that  sections of the stadium have almost been turned into a dump site with broken seats and stained bathrooms combining to give the stadium a generally repulsive smell.

It is currently Ghana’s largest stadium with a seating capacity of 40,528.

However, its current state is one of a terribly maintained facility that lacks the capacity to be described as a standard sporting facility.

About the stadium

The stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) in 1957, and inaugurated as a designated football pitch in 1959.

Its stands were constructed in 1971 before the entire stadium was rebuilt in 1977. In 2004 under President John Agyekum Kufuor, it was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer, Baba Yara.

The last major work on the facility was in 2008 ahead of Ghana’s hosting of the CAN 2008 tournament.

Worrying state of Azumah Nelson Sports Complex

Citi News had early on reported on the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, a multi-purpose sports facility for the national teams, which is now engulfed in filth, and has become an abode for reptiles including snakes.

Instead of grooming the next generation of sportsmen and women, the facility now has become a condemned piece of architecture good for refuse and reptiles.

By: Fentuo Tahiru/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sports Ministry summons Kumasi NSA boss over ‘funeral stadium’ comments appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Sarfo Mensah, however admitted that, some unofficial discussions had taken place on the matter, and the Authority was considering the move.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BV5c4Q0Q3YNPLcvkcMH5UPsvnPcedhaC”]The Director of the National Sports Authority in Ashanti Region, Joshua Mensah, had revealed this development at a news conference, explaining that such a move had become necessary because of lack of funds.

Hiring out the stadium for funerals and other social activities was viewed as a viable source of income for the maintenance of the facility, which is reportedly deteriorating.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Sarfo Mensah urged Ghanaians to disregard the directive.

“Officially, the NSA has not taken any decision to ban football matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. That is on record… no such decision has been made official so I call on all sports-loving Ghanaians and football lovers, the people who patronize our facilities on Saturdays, to disregard the directive. It is not official.”

A private meeting was held with the Director of the National Sports Authority in Ashanti Region regarding the management direction of the Stadium, and Mr. Sarfo Mensah said he “made it very clear to him that this is a major policy decision and per corporate governance principles, even me as a Director General, cannot sit in my office and take such a decision until it goes to the board,” he added.

Thus, Mr. Sarfo Mensah said he told the National Sports Authority in Ashanti Region to put the proposed move in writing “and attach a copy of the management meeting minutes to it to for me to forward it to the board for directives and advice.”

He also said an emergency management meeting had been called to discuss the matter next Monday.

The Baba Yara Sports Stadium was renovated for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, which was hosted in Ghana, but years of neglect has now left the facility in a poor state.

Mr. Sarfo Mensah acknowledged the poor maintenance of the stadium over the years, and said “plans are far advanced in correcting all these situations.

“So to a very large extent, there is the need to generate more IGF to keep the facility in a better shape and in doing that, we need to engage our key stakeholders very well to come level terms and go through the due process so we don’t create any tension in the system.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Sports Authority makes U-turn on use of Baba Yara for funerals appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It is currently Ghana’s largest stadium with a seating capacity of 40,528. However, its current state is one of a terribly maintained facility that lacks the capacity to be described as a standard sporting facility.

When Citi News’ Hafiz Tijani visited the stadium, the hitherto green pitch had become pale brown.

Many of the seats in the spectators’ stand were broken, with the ability to cause injury to unsuspecting sports patrons.

Most corners within the stands have become grounds for the dumping of refuse.

That was not the only cause of the repugnant smell within the stands, but the many plastic water bottles that have been filled with urine and dumped there, were also to blame.

The washroom was a terrible sight to behold.

Apart from the foul smell, water barely flowed through the pipes as the sinks appeared to be badly stained due to long neglect and no proper cleaning.

About the stadium

The stadium was originally built by the United African Company (UAC) in 1957, and inaugurated as a designated football pitch in 1959.

Its stands were constructed in 1971 before the entire stadium was rebuilt in 1977.

In 2004 under President John Agyekum Kufuor, it was renamed after Kumasi-born footballer, Baba Yara.

The last major work on the facility was in 2008 ahead of Ghana’s hosting of the CAN 2008 tournament.

Azumah Nelson Sports Complex now breeding ground for reptiles [Photos]

Citi News had early on reported on the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, a multi-purpose sports facility for the national teams, which is now engulfed in filth, and has become an abode for reptiles including snakes.

Instead of grooming the next generation of sportsmen and women, the facility now has become a condemned piece of architecture good for refuse and reptiles.

See photos below:

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Photo credit: Hafiz Tijani

The post Poorly maintained Baba Yara stadium fast deteriorating [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The measure is to stem further deterioration of the pitch, which had in recent times, been used in organizing entertainment and church-related activities.

Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who was inspecting facilities at the Stadium in Kumasi on Tuesday, decried the extent at which the 40,000 capacity facility had been damaged.

Accompanied by officials of the NSA, the Minister inspected the VIP, VVIP and popular stands, Presidential lounge, washrooms, dressing rooms, tartan tracks, hockey and soccer pitches.

Constructed in the 1960s, the Stadium, Ghana’s biggest sporting facility, has not seem any major rehabilitation works in the last decade, after the edifice was upgraded as one of the venues to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2008.

It is the only facility in the country capable of hosting international athletics competitions, following removal of the tartan tracks at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The lack of proper maintenance and financial constraints has seen the fast deterioration of the Stadium as close to 8,000 seats have been damaged.

Mr. Asiamah said his visit formed part of measures by the Ministry to assess all state-owned sporting facilities in the country in order to be abreast of their present states..

This, he said, would inform the government of how the facilities could be put in good shape to host international events.

The Minister, who had already toured the Accra Stadium, announced of plans for rehabilitation works to commence at the Stadium in June, this year, and disclosed that this would cost about $12 million.

He reiterated the resolve by his Ministry to deepen the community parks concept, saying that three new parks would be constructed in the Ashanti, Northern and Eastern Regions.

Mr. Asiamah later interacted with staff of the NSA, assuring them that the government had stepped up efforts to improve their conditions of service for their well-being.

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Source: GNA

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