The Minister of Sports and Recreation, who also doubles as Member of Parliament for Buem Jasikan, Kofi Adams Iddi, has announced government plans to construct about seven state-of-the-art sports stadium in the Oti Region, aimed at improving local sports infrastructure.

President Mahama, since assuming power, has on countless occasions expressed his commitment to improving sporting infrastructure across the country.

During the President’s first formal meeting with the press, on September 10, he reiterated that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is actively designing and costing new stadiums as part of the government’s broader effort to nurture regional talent and promote community engagement.

Speaking at the 65th anniversary of Bueman Senior High School, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building seven new regional modern sports stadiums, with the Oti Region set to benefit significantly.

He also mentioned that his outfit would construct a modern sports complex at Bueman Senior High School to nurture young talent. The planned facility will feature a basketball court, volleyball court, tennis court, and handball court, which will serve both students and members of the community.

He also promised to support the school with some study materials, including textbooks, sports kits, and digital devices, reinforcing the government’s commitment to expanding grassroots sports and creating educational pathways for young people.

He further announced plans to establish a National School Authority to ensure students from basic school through tertiary level have access to well-funded educational and sporting activities.

In another related development, 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.

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.