How prominent personalities have reacted to the deplorable state of sports complexes in Ghana

The poor condition of various sports complexes across Ghana has sparked strong reactions from the public.

Several prominent figures have criticized the Ministry of Youth and Sports for failing to implement effective maintenance measures for these facilities.

Among those expressing their displeasure are sports journalist Saddick Adams, media personality and sports administrator Dr. Randy Abbey, and former Minister of Youth and Sports Nii Lante Vanderpuye.

Saddick Adams

“Ho Sports Stadium today. It was completed in March 2023 and hosted Independence Day celebrations. If you’re a DCE or MCE and they build this in your community and you allow it to rot to this state, you should be held responsible,” he wrote on X.

Dr. Randy Abbey

“The Ho Sports Complex, which was used for Independence Day last year, has now turned into this state, even though it was built with taxpayers' money. The decision to put the facility there was made by some people who did the needs assessment and everything, but whatever went into it, we do not know.

"I am saying that how do you sink millions of dollars into something like this, and just after a year, this is what happened, and people still have their jobs?” he fumed.

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye

“The pitch is not as friendly as we would have liked it to be. It was a real struggle to control the ball, but we managed to some extent. We should be thankful that there were no serious injuries. It was a fun experience, and we all enjoyed ourselves,” citinewsroom.com quoted him as saying.

Here are the Sports Complexes that are in a deplorable state in the various constituencies

Ho Central Constituency

The Ho Sports Complex, located in the Ho Central constituency, is in a state of neglect. In a video shared by sports journalist Saddick Adams on X, the pitch is overrun with weeds, and many seats are either broken or missing, giving the stadium an abandoned look. The roofing and other parts of the stadium are also in poor condition, making it unsafe for sporting events. The stadium hosted the 2023 Independence Day celebration.

Okaikwei South Constituency

The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in North Kaneshie, Accra, is in a deplorable state after years of neglect, as reported by citinewsroom.com. The facility, part of a 2018 project to build 10 Youth Resource Centers, was intended to be a multipurpose sports center but remains incomplete and in disrepair. Built in the 1970s, the complex served as a training base for the Black Stars during the 1978 AFCON but has since deteriorated significantly.

Dormaa Constituency

The Dormaa Multipurpose Sports Complex, which cost seven million cedis to construct, has been abandoned since 2020. The FIFA standard pitch is overgrown with weeds, and the running tracks are covered in plants. The spectator stands are the only completed part of the project, with washrooms still in good condition. The complex was supposed to include various sports facilities and amenities, but the project remains unfinished.

Essikado Ketan Constituency

Two years after the announcement of the Essipong Stadium's construction in the Essikado-Ketan constituency, the stadium is in a dire state. The ceilings are falling apart, and the restrooms are deteriorating. The entire facility is in shambles, with worn-out chairs and exposed metal posing safety hazards.

Navrongo Central Constituency

The Navrongo Sports Complex is overrun with weeds due to a lack of maintenance. The main pitch, intended to be covered with green grass, is now filled with weeds. Some seats are broken or missing, as highlighted in a post by Saddick Adams on X.

In response to these issues, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has assured the public that his office will take the necessary actions to resolve the problems with the stadiums.

SB/OGB