The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has delivered a sobering assessment of the state of sports infrastructure in Ghana, describing it as “quite gloomy.”
Mr Ankrah made the candid remarks while submitting the NSA’s first official report to the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams. Speaking exclusively to Joy Sports, the NSA boss called for a united national effort to address the country’s decaying sports facilities.
“It’s quite gloomy,” he admitted. “But we need to address them. From Nkawkaw, where Honourable Bryan Acheampong intends to support Accra United through the construction of a new stadium, subject to the proper documentation, we are seeing examples of how partnerships can help.”
He encouraged private individuals, corporate bodies, and investors, both local and foreign to get involved, stressing that the task of reviving Ghana’s sports infrastructure cannot be borne by the government alone.
“We must do the work, but it must be done well. It must be done right,” Ankrah said, aligning his appeal with what he called the President’s “reset agenda” for national development.
The NSA boss also appealed to Ghanaians for patience, noting that the deterioration of sports facilities did not happen overnight and that the process of restoring them would take time.
“It will take years to fix what has taken years to break down. We need to be very patient and thorough in the way we address these challenges.”
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah’s comments come at a time when many of the country’s once-prominent stadiums and athletic centres are in disrepair, with athletes and coaches frequently complaining about poor training conditions and lack of investment.
The NSA says it remains committed to reviving sports in Ghana, not just for competitive excellence, but to inspire national pride and youth development.