Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku strongly criticized the National Sports Authority (NSA) for closing the Accra Sports Stadium to football clubs in favor of December musical concerts.
The NSA’s decision, announced in November 2023, impacted several football clubs in the capital, including Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics, who had been hosting their Premier League home games at the stadium.
Expressing his dissatisfaction on Saturday, December 16, Kurt Okraku took to Facebook to condemn the NSA’s actions under the leadership of Professor Peter Twumasi.
He emphasized his expectation that such disruptions should not occur again in Ghana football, stating, “What the NSA has done to football and sports in this month should never happen again. It’s just not acceptable!!!”
The NSA’s decision to close the Accra Stadium is rooted in the NSA’s recent strategic shift towards revenue generation from non-sporting activities. While leveraging the facility’s popularity during the festive season, it also disrupts the traditional use of the stadium for football matches during this period.
The facility has been booked for the Freedom Wave musical show by Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, and the BHIM concert by Stonebwoy, both scheduled for this month.
As a result of the stadium closure, Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics have relocated their home matches to the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and Accra Lions who has also moved to Sogakope.
