The National Sports Authority (NSA) has temporally closed down the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital with immediate effect. A statement signed by Acting Regional Director of the NSA, Edmond Appiah, said the stadium is closed to both football and athletics purposes with effect from Monday, February 17, 2020. Ghana's largest stadium with a seating capacity of 40,528, is also home grounds of one of Africa's most popular sports club, Asante Kotoko as well as King Faisal. The two teams would have to make alternative arrangements to host visiting teams in the ongoing 2019/2020 Ghana Premier League games. However, the NSA said the closure is to enable it and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to have ample and uninterrupted time to fix critical places of the stadium before the celebration of Ghana's 63rd Independence Anniversary Celebration. The statement added that the total renovation would, however, resume immediately after the celebrations. It said, the public is therefore advised to make alternative arrangements for their programmes adding that, they would be duly notified when the stadium can host football and athletics again.