The Baba Yara Sports Stadium pitch came under public scrutiny during the 2026 Democracy Cup game between Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak on August 29, 2026.
Some portions of the field were patchy, affecting ball movement and disrupting the flow of the game, which sparked public concern.
A closer look revealed brownish areas, indicating that the grass had not been fully installed or grown to the required level to meet international standards.
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The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, recently shared a video showing individuals clearing weeds from the pitch to make way for installation.
Many expected the pitch to be ready for the Democracy Cup, but renovation work is still in progress to restore the field to its best state.
Reacting to the backlash, Ampofo Ankrah admitted that the Baba Yara Stadium pitch was not ready for the Democracy Cup, emphasizing that work is ongoing.
He stressed that the target completion date is Asante Kotoko’s opening game against Hearts of Lions in the Ghana Premier League.
Despite this assurance, stakeholders have called on the NSA to expedite renovation works to ensure the stadium is ready for the upcoming 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
View the tweets below:
In just over a month, the Black Stars will host The Gambia in their second AFCON 2027 qualifier.
— Felix Romark (@FelixRomark) August 28, 2026
This is the pitch at Baba Yara Stadium that is expected to stage that match.
We are not a serious football nation. 😡 pic.twitter.com/cw9xJqPhGZ
The current state of the baba yara pitch.
— Agogo (@CyrusAgogo) August 28, 2026
Very bad. pic.twitter.com/yxBojHqMCB
SB/JKB
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