Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Yaw Ampofo Ankrah has raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Accra Sports Stadium, warning that the facility is currently not ready to host the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

Ghana is scheduled to host the next edition of the continental youth tournament in 2027, a year that will also mark the country’s 70th anniversary of independence.

The competition will return to Ghana for the second time, following the nation’s successful hosting of the tournament in 1999, when the Black Satellites won the title on home soil.

However, Ampofo Ankrah believes urgent action is required to restore the Accra Sports Stadium to acceptable standards ahead of the tournament.

Speaking on Sporty FM, the NSA Director General revealed that the current state of the stadium raises serious concerns and that rehabilitation works must begin immediately if Ghana is to meet the requirements for hosting the competition.

“The Accra Sports Stadium is breaking up; I don’t think we can host the upcoming U20 AFCON unless we start work immediately,” Yaw Ampofo said.

He disclosed that an assessment of the facility was recently conducted with the involvement of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Ghana, with officials awaiting a detailed report on the condition of the stadium and the scope of renovation required.

“There was a review and a tour of the entire facility with a French company just two weeks ago; the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is privy to this. The report should be ready any moment to tell us the true state of the Accra Sports Stadium and the extent of work that needs to be done,” he said.

The NSA chief stressed that funding remains the biggest challenge facing the rehabilitation project, noting that support from the government, private sector and international partners will be essential to complete the necessary upgrades.

“It’s about funding. So I can talk, I can request, I can do all that needs to be done. But if we don’t have funding, whether from corporate, whether from, you know, international partnerships, or from states, nothing is going to happen,” he added.

With Ghana preparing to stage a major CAF competition, pressure is now mounting on authorities to accelerate renovation plans and ensure that the country’s major sporting facilities meet international standards before the tournament begins.