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Ghanaians always pride themselves on being a nation that loves sports but
have over the years failed to make adequate facilities available for sports
professionals to develop and excel to their highest potential.
There have been a number of notable individuals who have climbed the pedestal of greatness to raise the flag of Ghana higher in the field of sports but we could have had way more success stories if we had done things right.
One of the effective ways to bring out the best in any athlete is to provide the
right environment for them to develop their craft and be competitive at that. A quality ultra-modern sports facility that meets international standards is the ultimate expectation of every athlete to enhance their preparations for international championships.
Unfortunately, sportsmen and women in Ghana are deprived of such facilities
because they’ve found themselves in a nation that celebrates mediocrity. A
multi-sports facility like the newly constructed University of Ghana Stadium
cannot boast of having a quality playing field, standard lighting, and even
proper conference room for media engagements.
Yet, the government and citizens alike continue to sing praises for doing the
bare minimum in terms of sports edifices. The issue has not been about having
a sports facility. The real question is; what is the quality of our sports facilities?
Do they meet international modern standards? Do we contract the right professionals to work on our facilities? Can we host any huge global tournaments with the current sports infrastructures we have? Why do we as a nation like to celebrate mediocrity as if we are not privy to what is being constructed in other nations?
What is the essence of constructing a new stadium in 2024 that cannot meet CAF standards to host an AFCON Qualifier? A stadium that is less than 10 months old cannot come to the rescue of a so-called football nation at a time when all other existing sports facilities have been literally banned from hosting international games.
What has been stopping authorities from ensuring that all national stadia have
standard modern pitches installed to promote and beautify our sports while
also protecting players from avoidable injuries caused by these “poultry farms”
pitches? How difficult and costly is it to enhance our sports with quality pitches at stadiums that have been constructed only this year?
It was extremely disappointing to realize that the newly built Tarkwa TnA
Stadium didn’t have a modern pitch installed, an electronic advertising board, and proper lighting. Many people had high hopes when it was announced that a
private company financed the entire project so a better facility was anticipated
during construction. Sadly, the final outcome wasn’t too different from the
other national stadia that the government-supervised. One would wonder when
the nation could get it right for once.
The importance of the sports ecosystem to the economy cannot be overemphasized. International sporting games held in the country greatly boost tourism, transportation, and several local businesses in a higher dimension. It is about time leaders in the sports sector shun mediocrity and invest greatly in the facilities that will enhance the collective growth of all persons involved in the industry.
It is actually long overdue for sportsmen and women to put pressure on
authorities to provide them with quality infrastructure to enhance their jobs. All sports lovers are also entreated to join hands to demand proper modern sports facilities that would attract international attention and boost our economy.
