National Sports Authority (NSA) has announced that it is making arrangements to acquire pitch covers for national stadia nationwide. He made this revelation during an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show on Wednesday, September 24.

Ghana has a mixed history when it comes to the quality of our pitches, with rare cases of consistent maintenance often from hosting football, concerts, and rallies. Lack of pitch covers, among others.

In light of this, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, attributed Ghana’s lack of pitch covers to a possible oversight; however, he assured that his outfit was making arrangements to secure some to ensure the sustainability and quality of stadia’s turfs nationwide.

The poor condition of several pitches, largely due to inadequate maintenance and the absence of protective covers, has raised concerns about their suitability for hosting matches.

“We are in the process of acquiring pitch covers for our stadia. In the past, maybe it was an oversight, and that is why we don’t have some at the moment, but for now, we are making arrangements to get them,” he said.

He stressed that the move is aimed at preventing further deterioration of the facilities. “We don’t want our pitches to deteriorate, as we witnessed in the past,” Ampofo Ankrah added.

The national stadia include Accra Sports Stadium, Aliu Mahama Stadium, Essipong Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Stadium, and Cape Coast Stadium.

His remarks come at a time when he clarified the Authority’s decision to allow Ghanaian rapper and highlife artist Michael Addo, popularly referred to as Sarkodie, to host his Rapperholic concert this Saturday, September 27, at the Baba Yara sports stadium in Kumasi.

The Sark Nation were ecstatic after the ‘landlord’ announced that his flagship annual concert, Rapperholic, would be held in Kumasi this year. However, football enthusiasts weren’t happy to hear that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium will host the concert.

However, during an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, the Director General of the NSA, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, clarified that while his outfit has given the rapper the green light to host the concert at the stadium, he has been banned from extending his activities to the pitch itself.

Acknowledging the poor state of pitches in the Ghana government’s efforts to renovate and add to the number of stadiums nationwide, he explained that, “Sarkodie is prohibited from using the pitch to host the Rapperholic event. The pitch is important to us, and there is no way the event will be hosted on the pitch,” he added.

He continued that, while Sarkodie has explicitly been told to stay away from the pitch itself, he cautioned that sanctions would be applied if the arrangements were violated.

“We are aware that there is an agreement in place stating that a penalty or fine will be incurred should that happen, but we are not interested in pursuing that. There are no pitch covers, so we have to put measures in place to ensure that the pitch is safe,” he noted.

Estimated costs for pitch covers

Pitch covers vary significantly in cost depending on their design, durability, and deployment methodThe cost of a basic tarpaulin cover typically ranges from $5,000 to $20,000 USD, thus approximately around (GH₵ 61,750 -GH₵ 247,000). They are mostly manually deployed sheets designed to protect the pitch from rain. Comparatively cheaper but offer limited durability and seasonal flexibility.

Heavy-duty weatherproof covers cost between $20,000 and $50,000 USD (G₵ 617,500- GH₵ 247,000). These are UV-resistant and suitable for multi-season use. They provide better protection against both rain and sun, making them ideal for regions with fluctuating weather patterns like Ghana.

Mechanised retractable covers are significantly more expensive, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 USD or more. These systems are automated and typically used in elite stadiums around the world. They allow for quick deployment and retraction, often integrated with advanced turf management systems.

Full dome or roof structures, which go beyond simple pitch covers, can cost anywhere from $1 million to $10 million USD or more. These are permanent installations that protect the entire stadium and are usually reserved for high-capacity, multi-purpose venues in wealthier countries.

Sarkodie, responding to the NSA’s directive, took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to assure fans that, as he had been explicitly directed from the outset, he expressed his intention to host the concert at the stadium and would not break any rules.

“The rules were set from day 1, and we are not ready to break it (sic),” he said.

About Rapperholic

The Rapperholic Concert was founded in 2012 to showcase Sarkodie’s music, celebrate Ghanaian rap, and thrill fans with exciting performances from both local and foreign artists. The concert is usually headlined by Sarkodie, who mostly gives opportunities to emerging rappers to perform. Rapperholic is mostly nothing short of an actual display of fashion and culture, with fans dressing in streetwear, among others.

This year promises nothing different. The concert is set to host artists like Black Sherif, King Promise, Efya, and surprise international acts. Under the theme “Rapperholic: The Homecoming”.

The Baba Yara Stadium is currently under renovation to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA standards, making preservation of the playing surface a top priority.

Sarkodie visits Otumfuor

Sarkodie visited Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at Manhyia Palace to formally seek royal blessing for the Rapperholic Kumasi Edition. During the meeting, Otumfuo warmly welcomed Sarkodie’s initiative and said:

“They don’t allow me to go out often, but this one, I would like to attend and watch the event myself.”Sarkordie was there with his team to officially inform the King about the upcoming concert and also seek his blessings and consent.

After advising the rapper and his team to stay humble, he said he’s happy to attend the event if invited.