Baba Yara Stadium will be ready for 2026/27 football season – NSA boss

Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has announced that Baba Yara Stadium will be ready for the 2026/27 Ghana football season. The NSA boss, along with NSA Board Chairman Dr Fred Awaah and NSA Estate Boss Mr Ebo, toured the facility. The 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season is set to commence from September 4 to 7, 2026.

Upon inspecting the stadium, Mr Ampofo Ankrah praised the Ashanti Regional Directorate for their efforts in restoring the facility to full functionality. He examined the pitch's progress, the scoreboard, and floodlights. Expressing confidence in the facility's readiness, Mr Ampofo Ankrah stated that the pitch is responding well to treatment and the rehabilitation is on course.

He emphasized that the facility should be robust enough to host football matches, including the Ghana Premier League and any international game if necessary. The NSA has faced criticism over a viral video showing groundkeepers using hoes instead of modern turf maintenance equipment. However, Mr Ampofo Ankrah defended the Ashanti Regional Directorate's work, explaining that the stadium currently lacks some modern equipment.

He commended the team for tackling the weeds from their source. Despite the progress, more than 3,000 seats at the stadium remain to be repaired following violent incidents during school sports competitions in January, which damaged some seats. The Ghana Education Service has agreed to fund the restoration of the damaged seats.