FIFA, the body that oversees international football, has verified that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) was given more than $260,000 to maintain the nation’s grass fields.
FIFA said in an email to Muftawu Nabila Abdulai of JoySports that the money was set aside for the “installation of boreholes and water tanks” in order to enhance field conditions.
According to a post made last week on FIFA’s website, “FIFA Forward has also contributed to the purchase of footballs for youth and regional development, as well as the maintenance of natural grass pitches at 80 venues in Ghana, benefiting Women’s Premier League and regional women’s clubs.”
“This initiative has supported regional women’s teams, where many of the U-20 national players began their careers.”
This revelation has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the current state of these pitches, none of which seem to be in a suitable condition to host even a Black Star’s training session.
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However, FIFA clarified in an email to Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, explaining, “FIFA assisted the GFA in maintaining natural grass pitches at 80 match venues across Ghana. This included the installation of boreholes and water tanks, ensuring that the venues met the minimum club licensing requirements. The total support amounted to $267,273.”
The Ghana Football Association (CAF) has prohibited the use of Baba Yara stadium for CAF/FIFA International matches due to its current pitch not meeting the required standards. CAF recommends a complete reconstruction of the stadium’s playing surface and recommends a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards.
The Ghana FA has approved the “Ghana Football Association Borehole Project” by FIFA, which aims to improve the quality of pitches and competitions through the installation of boreholes at game centres across the country. However, it is unclear which venues benefited from the funds, as Baba Yara, Accra Sports Stadium, and Cape Coast stadium did not benefit. FIFA has confirmed that the funding exceeded $260,000.
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