Benson Tongo Baba, the Member of Parliament for the Talensi Constituency, has called upon the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, to exercise oversight and regulate the actions of the National Sports Authority (NSA).
This request comes in response to the NSA's decision to close the Accra Sports Stadium to football clubs, prioritizing December musical concerts over sporting events.
The November 2023 announcement by the NSA adversely affected prominent football clubs, including Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics, who were denied access to the stadium for their matches.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, BT Baba expressed his concern about the deviation from the stadium's intended purpose for hosting sports-related activities.
Highlighting the recent allocation of the Accra Sports Stadium for concerts, Baba questioned whether such decisions align with the NSA's mandate, which primarily focuses on promoting sports.
“I have pointed out to the NSA that the stadiums were constructed to promote sports-related activities. Not a while ago, the Accra Sports Stadium was given out for concerts, and I want to know if that is part of their mandate?”
He specifically mentioned the denial of Hearts of Oak the use of the venue for a crucial game against Asante Kotoko, resulting in financial losses for both teams.
“NSA, supposed to promote sports, chose to deny Accra Hearts of Oak the use of that venue for that crucial game against Asante Kotoko.
Baba urged Minister Mustapha Ussif to take necessary actions to ensure the NSA adheres to its mandate and promotes sports activities as intended.
“Both teams have lost revenue as a result of not allowing Hearts of Oak to play on their traditional home ground, and I want the Minister to put them in check.”
