Ghana’s Poor Football Pitches …Sports Authority Boss Sacked

Dodzie Numekevor, has been sacked from his position as Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), The New Publisher has gathered.

President Akufo-Addo was reported to have ordered the immediate sacking of Dodzie Numekevor after the details emerged on the sorry state of Ghana’s football pitches and the stinking causes of the current state of the poor pitches.

Reports say, aside the shameful state of Ghana’s football pitches,  Dodzie Numekevor may have been kicked out of office due to disturbing reasons in yet to be confirmed.

It is the duty of the National Sports Authority to provide and maintain sports centers and facilities and also maintain all playing fields and stadia provided by the body known as the National Playing Fields Board or any Body approved by the Commissioner responsible for sports.

Ghana recently became a laughing stock after the Confederation of African Football (CAF)  on Tuesday September 11, 2024, banned Ghana’s only approved stadium, the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi  and withdrew its approval for hosting matches, due to technical infractions, including an unsuitable playing field.

CAF, in a statement to explain the withdrawal of the license noted: “It is important to note that, prior to the match, CAF had expressed concerns about the suitability of Baba Yara Sports Stadium for hosting top-tier international fixtures. Persistent issues at this venue, as well as others in Ghana, such as Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium, have also been noted.”

Given the absence of any other CAF-approved Category 3 stadiums in Ghana, CAF has requested the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to select an alternative venue from among those approved by CAF outside Ghana for Matchday 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers.

CAF recommened that the relevant authorities in Ghana should “conduct a comprehensive assessment of all major international stadiums in Ghana to ensure they comply with CAF technical standards.”

The Confederation also  advised that the stadium management engage experienced companies immediately to undertake the necessary refurbishment to meet CAF/FIFA standards.

The withdrawal of approval means that Ghana will have to find alternative venues for upcoming international matches, including the AFCON qualifiers.

26 February 2024, Dodzie Numekevor has been serving as interim Director General of the NSA.

He has also been focused on becoming a Member of Parliament for Sege on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his winning the candidature has made the former candidate, Eunice Lasi, leave the Party to contest as an independent candidate.

In the last elections, Eunice Lasi had 15,464 of valid votes cast representing 47.05% while the winner, Christian Corletey  Otuteye who contested on the teicket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) polled      17,256        to represent 52.50% of valid votes cast. The votes difference between the NDC and NPP at the parliamentary level was 1,792.

Meanwhile when it came to the presidential votes the NDC’s John Mahama polled 23,090        to represent 72.38% to beat the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo who had 8,075 to represent 25.31% of valid votes case.

Very few people, if any, would place any meaningful bet on the chances of the sacked Dodzie Numekevor’s chances on winning the Sege seat… MORE SOON