Ibrahim Sannie Daara, a former director of communications for the Ghana Football Association (GFA), is pleading with the government to use money from the betting tax to fund the development of sports facilities.
His suggestion comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned the Baba Yara Stadium because of its subpar playing surface.
The Black Stars may have to play their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on neutral territory as a result of this decision.
In an interview with PM Express on Joy News, Daara proposed that the government utilize the money collected from sports betting taxes to pay for stadium upkeep and upgrades.
“We need to rethink our approach. The government is generating substantial income from sports betting, and it’s possible that this revenue could exceed a million dollars. Instead of directing these funds elsewhere, why not invest a portion into stadium maintenance?” the CAF Media Officer said.
Instead of depending on people who were nominated by politicians to run these facilities, he underlined the necessity of recruiting qualified experts and noted that “technical expertise is crucial to ensure our stadiums meet international standards.”
Next month, Ghana will play Sudan in an as-yet-to-be-confirmed location for their third AFCON qualifier. They will then fly to Sudan for the second leg, which will take place at the Al-Merrikh Stadium.
According to reports, the Black Stars may play their home game in Togo, Nigeria, or the Ivory Coast, among other nearby nations.
The National Sports Authority (NSA) has responded to the problem by closing three major stadiums for maintenance: Cape Coast, Accra Sports, and Baba Yara.
