The National Sports Authority (NSA) has come under fire for leasing out the Accra Sports Stadium for Christmas concerts, causing the closure of the venue for football matches in December.
This decision led to Ghana Premier League clubs like Hearts of Oak, Accra Great Olympics, Accra Lions, and Dreams FC to look for alternative locations for their home games.
During his appearance before the Public Account Committee, the Director General of the NSA, Prof. Peter Twumasi, defended the move, stating that it’s common practice to utilize stadiums for non-sporting events.
He addressed concerns about the condition of the pitches following the concerts and asserted that the decision aligns with past practices of granting permission for various non-sporting events.
On the other hand, Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif distanced himself from the stadium’s closure for concerts. He clarified that he did not authorize the closure and expressed his preference for the facilities to be primarily used for talent development and sporting competitions.
Minister Ussif stated that upon learning about the closure, he reached out to Prof. Twumasi to address the situation.
The controversy around the decision to rent out stadiums for social events highlights the ongoing debate over the use of sports venues for non-sporting activities. The clash of interests between cultural and sporting events raises questions about the priorities for these public facilities and the impact of such decisions on the local sporting community.
