A recent CAF technical inspection report has revealed widespread infrastructure deficiencies at proposed competition venues and training facilities in Ghana. The report, which assessed five proposed stadiums across Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, identified significant concerns over stadium maintenance, pitch quality, security systems, spectator safety, and media facilities.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi was declared non-compliant with CAF Category 4 standards, requiring comprehensive rehabilitation. The inspection identified a poor playing surface, defective irrigation, obsolete and partially blocked drainage systems, and inadequate maintenance equipment. The stadium's security arrangements, including the absence of a functional CCTV surveillance system, automated access control, and electronic spectator counting, also raised concerns.
The Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana's principal national sporting facility, has also been flagged for extensive rehabilitation. Despite its historical significance and 40,000-seat capacity, the report describes advanced deterioration, particularly affecting metallic structures, which are heavily corroded and rusted. The stadium lacks electronic turnstiles and automated access control systems, making effective spectator management difficult.
The University of Ghana Sports Stadium emerged as the strongest of the five proposed venues, commissioned in 2024 for the African Games. The 10,000-capacity facility was classified as compliant with conditions, requiring minor to moderate improvements. However, the report identifies limitations with its VIP and VVIP facilities, media infrastructure, and security systems.
Beyond the competition venues, CAF identified significant shortcomings at the 10 training facilities proposed by Ghana across the three host cities. The report highlights poor pitch quality, inadequate drainage and irrigation systems, insufficient floodlighting, and poorly equipped dressing rooms. CAF requires training grounds to meet a minimum floodlighting standard of 500 lux, but several of the proposed facilities were found to have inadequate lighting or none at all.
Despite the challenges, CAF believes Ghana has a credible opportunity to host the tournament, provided the required infrastructure investments are made within strict timelines. CAF has called for a phased infrastructure action plan with clearly defined budgets, milestones, and follow-up inspections. A technical coordination mechanism involving CAF and the Local Organising Committee has also been recommended to monitor progress.
The report concludes that Ghana's hosting bid is viable but makes final venue approval dependent on confirmed funding, delivery timelines, and successful compliance inspections. Three key points stand out: Ghana's infrastructure problem is broader than stadium renovation, the African Games legacy faces questions, and the financial commitment is now central to the bid.
Key points
- CAF flags four of five proposed stadiums in Ghana due to infrastructure deficiencies.
- Ghana's bid to host 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations dependent on confirmed funding and strict implementation timelines.
- University of Ghana Sports Stadium is only proposed competition venue assessed as compliant with conditions.
