The Public Relations Officer for the Ashanti Regional National Sports Authority (NSA), Patience Sharon Adams Mensah, has criticized the Club Licensing Board for its decision to ban Baba Yara Sports Stadium from hosting league matches due to security concerns.
The Club Licensing Board, in a statement issued on March 3, 2025, listed Baba Yara among venues not approved for league games. This came after the Ghana Premier League was suspended following the tragic death of an Asante Kotoko supporter during a match at Nsoatre.
Mensah described the directive as harsh and unfair, adding that the NSA was excluded from the decision-making process and not given enough time to address the concerns raised.
Right from day one, if they have included as in the decision making or whatever arrangements was and together with the presence of the Minister, I think there could have been a way or solution. Even during that implementation of the regulations. We wouldn’t even come to where we are now for the public to even hear this”, she stated.
However, NSA officials argue that the stadium is in better condition than several approved venues and insist that the ruling should be reconsidered.
She emphasized that security at Baba Yara has always been reinforced during league games, and additional measures are being put in place to meet requirements.
She acknowledged concerns about the mixed zone area but assured that adjustments had been made. Despite the ban, she remains hopeful that Kotoko will be allowed to host their next home game at the stadium as discussions continue.
looking at the size of the mixed zone area, to manage the two teams will be difficult. We created an artificial one where barracked in front of the mixed zone together with the security and the players will walk to the dressing room. But this time around they don’t want the spectators to even come near the players. They want the players alight from the bus and straight to the changing room and the same after the match.”
Unless the Minister comes in or if the Director General was there then the Director General would have been the one who will instruct us, guide or probably where to get the money to fix it. As we are now, I think there are deliberations going on so I am hearing that Sunday Kotoko will play their match while we still consider this proposal.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Premier League is set to resume on March 7, 2025, after a month-long suspension following the tragic passing of Asante Kotoko fan Francis Frimpong, popularly known as Nana Pooley.
