Accra: The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has lamented the limited number of staff within the Authority, noting that it is affecting operations. He explained that the current staff strength is inadequate to meet the demands of executing tasks, including stadium maintenance.
According to Ghana Web, Ampofo Ankrah, in an interview with Sporty FM on August 31, 2026, called for more competent personnel to be recruited into the required areas, stressing that increasing staff numbers would create jobs and improve efficiency. Ampofo Ankrah and Veronica Commey have faced criticism over the state of pitches, described as poor by many observers.
"This is job creation. In the past, we built stadia with beautiful car parks and receptions, but you only had four security guards, one manager to oversee several departments, and five or six groundsmen. That is 100% understaffed. And this has been the case for years-not just understaffed, but also lacking the right people to handle the facilities that have been built," he stated.
Ampofo Ankrah emphasized the need for pre-construction education and training for personnel to ensure that they are equipped to manage the facilities. The lack of this approach in the past has contributed to the current challenges faced by the NSA.
This staffing issue comes amid criticisms directed at the NSA over its inability to properly manage and maintain various stadia across the country, leaving pitches in poor condition ahead of major competitions involving the national team.
In response to these challenges, the NSA has announced plans to begin renovation works at the Accra Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Stadium, and Cape Coast Stadium to restore them to an optimal state ahead of the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in September 2026.