Reports suggests that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has fired Dodzie Numekevor, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), effective immediately.
The dismissal came when the Baba Yara Sports Stadium’s license to hold international matches was revoked by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
According to reports, the decision to reserve the stadium for a six-day religious gathering shortly before Ghana’s AFCON 2025 qualifying match against Angola served as the impetus for the action.
According to reports, President Akufo-Addo held the people in charge of the rental accountable and gave Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif strict instructions that he would be held accountable if Ghana had to play any home matches away from home because of venue problems.
After that, Numekevor was questioned by Sports Minister Ussif through his Chief Director William Kartay Caesar, who demanded an explanation for the disgrace to the nation and the presidency.
Numekevor was given until September 18, 2024, to reply, but on Tuesday afternoon, the President decided to remove him from office due to his displeasure with the condition of sporting facilities under his direction.
Numekevor had shuttered the Baba Yara, Accra, and Cape Coast stadiums for renovation prior to his departure due to growing worries over the facilities’ declining state.
In a letter to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on September 10, CAF also expressed concerns about the poor condition of the stadiums in Accra and Cape Coast and advised that the Baba Yara pitch be rebuilt.
For the 2025 AFCON qualifications, Sudan will be hosted by the GFA at an authorized location outside of Ghana; Togo is presently being examined as a backup alternative.
Since February 26, 2024, Numekevor has been acting as the NSA’s acting director general. He took over for Professor Peter Twumasi, who had held the role for six years.
In the meanwhile, Ghana and Sudan will play each other twice in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying round. The Black Stars will travel to the Al-Merrikh Stadium for the second Group F match after hosting the Falcons at a location to be determined.
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