Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has strongly condemned the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to ban the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, calling it a national disgrace.

The ban has left Ghana’s Black Stars unable to host matches at home due to poor pitch conditions.

Mahama expressed his frustration over the government’s failure to maintain the stadium, which he believes led to the ban. He described the situation as unprecedented in Ghana’s history, highlighting the humiliation of the national team being forced to play at neutral venues.

"CAF says the national team won't play a match in Ghana again. This is a big disgrace to Ghana. The first time in the history of Ghana that CAF is saying there is no certified stadium we can play a match on," Mahama remarked.

The former president also criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for sports infrastructure. He pointed to a specific instance involving $85 million, which was meant for the rehabilitation of stadiums for the All African Games, suggesting the money had been squandered.

"Athletes came in for the All African Games and stayed in Ghana for only 15 days. They used $15 million just to prepare food for them. So, they mean every day they spent one million dollars to feed the athletes? No, some things, if you hear, it's sad," Mahama stated.

His comments reflect a broader concern over the government’s handling of national sports resources and the impact on Ghana’s reputation on the international stage.

CAF’s decision to ban the Baba Yara Stadium was based on several factors, including poor drainage, uneven pitch, and inadequate grass cover. Following the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier between Ghana and Angola, CAF withdrew approval for the stadium.

In response, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has tasked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) with inviting CAF officials to inspect other potential venues, including the Accra Sports Stadium and Legon Stadium, to see if they meet the necessary standards to host future Black Stars matches.

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CAF's stadium ban on Ghana is a national embarrassment... - John Mahama #ElectionHub #EIBNetwork #GHOneNews #GHOneTV #NPP #NDC pic.twitter.com/F6wAGLNOcD— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) September 16, 2024