Rusting Accra Stadium cries for help

The Accra Sports Stadium, our national sports arena is seriously crying for help and as a real crusading sport media man, I wish to call on the authorities to act swiftly before there is a disaster. Since the renovation for the 2008 African Cup of Nations hosted by Ghana, the stadium has not seen any major renovation and all the iron rods are rusting very fast.

In fact the fast deteriorating nature of the national sports facility is so dangerous that it is about time that the National Sports Authority (NSA) acts fast.

Not only are iron rods rusting due to its nearness to the beach, so the sea breeze is affecting it, but some of the walls are cracking and for the toilets, the less said, the better.

For the sports loving fans in the capital, they have much to lose should any bad situation occur and for Accra Hearts of Oak, a club founded in 1911, that uses the facility as its home grounds, it bores to hear that the phobians still do not have their own stadium, where all the gate proceeds would go straight to the club’s coffers.

The Accra Sports Stadium is not only a sports facility, but a tourist attraction as some educational institutions have been touring the place, whilst most churches like the Central Gospel, Action Chapel and Jehovah Witness, just to name a few have used the place to preach sermons or changed people’s lives.

Sports is a unifying force that has brought entertainment to Ghanaians over the years and the Accra Sports Stadium is a venue that some people go for their week end entertainment, so those who run the place must offer the best safety measures.

There is a saying that “the earlier the better”, so I just want to advice the NSA to just act as early as possible to save sporting lives and also give the stadium the facelift that people who come there will be satisfied.

The May 9 disaster can never be forgotten by Ghanaians, especially Hearts fans, notably those who sit at the popular “Ade Coker stand” and the fearless Chapter O lost some of their staunch members when Hearts beat Asante Kotoko and their supporters caused much harm to seats and human lives.

If the NSA cannot act, we call on the Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah or his deputy Hon. Joseph Yamin to take a walk round the Stadium to see for themselves and find solution to this problem.

For Hearts of Oak and other clubs that use the Accra Sports Stadium, I can only advise the management to find a suitable land in Accra to construct new stadia.

I have advised, the authorities must act for the fans to enjoy sports at the Accra Sports Stadium. “A word to the wise is enough” and “A stitch in time saves nine”.