Sack the Sports Minister; Ablakwa to Akufo-Addo
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has demanded the head of the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif.
This follows the termination of the appointment of the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dodzie Numekevor by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on September 17, 2024, after the withdrawal of the Category 3 Hosting Right of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Reacting to the news, Ablakwa condemned the sole dismissal as “face-saving” as he affirmed that it was not enough to atone for the ravages and the international embarrassment caused to the State.
“President Akufo-Addo’s face-saving dismissal of the NSA boss cannot suffice. The President must immediately retrieve our GHS85million stadia rehabilitation payments from his cousin Kelvin Ofori-Atta and Javkier Limited owned by the Arhin ladies.”
He called for the dismissal of the sector Minister who he deemed to be equally culpable.
“The Sports Minister must equally be fired, and all those responsible for this humongous international disgrace and huge financial loss to the state should be prosecuted. Creating one scapegoat is not adequate deterrence for the unprecedented monumental international embarrassment the corrupt and inept Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government has subjected Ghana to.”
Withdrawal
The CAF in a letter charged Ghana to find a new venue outside the country to host their October home game against Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers as it noted that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium is not fit for purpose.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium held a right to host Category 3 international matches, but it was stripped after officials of the Confederation observed the deteriorated and poor state of the venue based in Kumasi.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) communicated the decision by CAF to the public on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
CAF as part of the remedy, directed Ghanaian authorities to invest in upgrading the facility to meet international standards.
The letter from CAF recommended that the relevant authorities “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards”.
Additionally, CAF advised that the stadium management engage experienced companies immediately to undertake the necessary refurbishment to meet CAF/FIFA standards.
The African football governing body also expressed its commitment to supporting Ghana in bringing its stadiums up to the required standards for hosting CAF/FIFA senior international matches, offering to assist by providing an international pitch consultant with experience in major international competitions, including AFCON, to offer additional expert guidance on the necessary improvements. The cost of this support would be borne by the GFA.
CAF went on to indicate that once the needed renovation works were completed, it would, at the GFA’s request and expense, conduct an independent inspection to reassess the stadium’s suitability for future matches.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
