Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has revealed that the Authority is still awaiting the release of funds to complete renovation works on the closed Independence Square Stand at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The stand was shut down ahead of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Chad in March due to safety concerns and rehabilitation efforts. Although it was temporarily opened to fans during that game, it has remained closed since.
“There are challenges here that we must address,” Ampofo Ankrah told Joy Sports. “We are still waiting for the release of funds to complete one of the stands so it can operate at full capacity.”
He noted that while urgent repairs are required, there are larger systemic issues affecting the stadium’s infrastructure. Ampofo Ankrah also disclosed that renovation contracts were awarded before the current administration took over, and these contracts are now under audit.
“From what my team and I have seen, the situation at our venues is worrying,” he said. “We await an official report from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to confirm whether the contracted works were carried out and to outline the next steps.”
The NSA is hopeful that the stand will be ready before Ghana resumes its World Cup qualifying campaign in September with a crucial clash against Mali.
