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FIFA has confirmed that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) received more than $260,000 for the maintenance of natural grass pitches in the country.
The funds were allocated for the installation of boreholes and water tanks to improve pitch conditions, aiming to meet minimum club licensing standards.
This revelation comes amid growing concerns over the current state of football pitches in Ghana, many of which are reportedly in poor condition.
A publication on FIFA’s website highlighted that the FIFA Forward initiative contributed to maintaining 80 grass pitches, benefiting Women’s Premier League teams, regional women’s clubs, and youth football development.
In an email to JoySports’ Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, FIFA clarified that the GFA received $267,273 for maintaining pitches at various venues, including installing water tanks and boreholes.
Despite this investment, several of the pitches are still in substandard conditions.
Recent developments have further raised concerns. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in a letter to the GFA, prohibited the use of Kumasi’s Baba Yara Sports Stadium for international matches due to its poor pitch quality, advising a complete reconstruction of the playing surface.
Three years ago, the GFA announced the approval of the “Ghana Football Association Borehole Project” under the FIFA Forward 1.0 program, which aimed to install boreholes across 80 venues to enhance the quality of pitches for various leagues.
However, many of the major venues, including Baba Yara and Accra Sports Stadium, reportedly did not benefit from the project, and boreholes are still absent at several locations.
Despite the funds being received, it remains unclear which specific venues benefited, and the condition of Ghana’s football pitches remains a pressing issue, sparking widespread debate.
