The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has warned that the Accra Sports Stadium will require urgent rehabilitation works if Ghana is to host the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana was awarded hosting rights for the tournament by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking the second time the country will stage the competition after the 1999 edition.

The 2027 tournament, which will form part of Ghana’s 70th Independence anniversary celebrations, will feature 12 teams, with the top four sides qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Speaking on Sporty FM, Ampofo Ankrah said the state of the Accra Sports Stadium means immediate action is needed if the facility is to meet the required standards for the competition.

“If we don’t have funding, whether from corporate bodies, international partnerships or the state, nothing is going to happen. Where we are now, I don’t think we can host the U-20 AFCON unless we start work immediately,” he said.

The NSA Director General said the stadium’s condition reflects wider concerns about Ghana’s sports infrastructure despite the country’s football achievements.

“We have been to the World Cup five times, yet we don’t have a standard stadium. That should worry all of us,” he added.

Ampofo Ankrah disclosed that a technical assessment of the facility has been completed by a French company commissioned through the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

He said the findings of the assessment will determine whether the stadium requires rehabilitation or a temporary closure for a period of weeks, months or longer.

“The report will tell us the true state of the Accra Sports Stadium, whether we need to close down the stadium for a few weeks, months or a year,” he said.

The NSA boss said the challenges at the stadium go beyond surface-level repairs, explaining that repeated renovations ahead of major events have not provided a lasting solution.

“It’s not about painting or tightening screws. It’s a stadium that was built a couple of decades ago, and we’ve had renovations, especially when there are major tournaments, and after that it’s back to factory settings. That’s a cycle that has not worked,” he said.

He stressed the need for a long-term rehabilitation plan to restore the Accra Sports Stadium to the standard expected of Ghana’s premier sporting facility.