Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has announced that the government will close the Accra Sports Stadium for renovation work after the March international window. The decision follows concerns over the stadium’s deteriorating condition, which has made it unsafe for fans and players.
The stadium is set to host Ghana’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Chad on Friday, March 21, 2025. This will be the first football match played at the facility since November 2024. However, despite four months of inactivity, authorities have not been able to fix the stadium’s structural issues.
Speaking in an interview with TV3, Minister Adams stressed the need for immediate repairs. "We have to close the Accra Sports Stadium to refurbish it and bring it up to standard," he stated.
Following an assessment, engineers advised that the entire upper stand, which faces Independence Square, should not be used due to structural integrity concerns. As a result, spectators will not be allowed in that section of the stadium during the upcoming match against Chad.
Adams also highlighted the poor state of the stadium’s lighting system. "When we were assessing the floodlights, we noticed that the knobs holding the lights are rusty. The stadium is virtually in a mess," he said.
The Accra Sports Stadium last underwent major renovations in 2018 in preparation for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Ghana hosted that year. However, since then, the facility has continued to degrade, raising safety concerns.
The government’s decision to close the stadium is aimed at ensuring it meets modern safety and quality standards before reopening for future events. While the timeline for the renovation project has not been specified, the closure is expected to last several months.
The Accra Sports Stadium is one of Ghana’s most iconic sporting venues, hosting national and international matches as well as other major events. Authorities hope that once completed, the renovation will restore the stadium’s status as a top-class facility for sports and entertainment.