We must use World Cup funds to help upgrade stadia – Yaw Ampofo Ankrah

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), is hopeful that a portion of the funds generated from Ghana's hosting of the 2026 World Cup will be used to upgrade the country's stadia. Ghana has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the second time the nation will host the youth tournament, with the first taking place in 1999.

In light of this, Ampofo Ankrah highlighted that some nations have exhibited transparency by disclosing how funds allocated for major sporting projects will be utilized, suggesting that Ghana could follow suit. "Other countries do it. I think DR Congo recently released their plan on how to, you know, use their funds, and I’m sure the GFA would do something similar in due course," he stated.

Currently, discussions regarding funding are ongoing, and the NSA boss urged Ghanaians to maintain patience and optimism as stakeholders strive to secure the necessary resources. "Conversations are ongoing, so let’s be patient and let’s be optimistic that we’ll hear something very positive," he added. The NSA is ready to allocate any funds received towards enhancing the nation's sporting facilities and ensuring the necessary improvements are completed.

Given the significant upgrades required to meet CAF standards for stadium infrastructure and playing surfaces, the availability of funding is crucial for Ghana's successful hosting of the tournament.