The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has clarified that the over $260,000 received from FIFA was not intended for the maintenance of national stadia, although the Tamale Sports Stadium was a beneficiary.

In a statement on its website titled "GFA Borehole Strategy – Facts," responding to a publication by JoySports' Muftawu Nabila Abdulai on Saturday, the football governing body stated, "The GFA made a specific request to FIFA for support for playing infrastructure," a portion of the release read.

On Friday, 13 September 2024, JoySports wrote to FIFA for clarification regarding a publication on its website, which stated that, "FIFA Forward has also helped in the maintenance of natural pitches at 80 venues in Ghana..."

Despite this support from the world football governing body, Ghana still lacks a suitable pitch for club and national team football.

On Tuesday, 10 September 2024, CAF prohibited the use of Baba Yara Stadium for CAF/FIFA international matches and recommended the reconstruction of the pitch after AFCON 2025 qualifier against Angola on September 5.

Concerns were also raised about the Accra and Cape Coast stadia.

JoySports' Muftawu Nabila Abdulai wrote to FIFA, referencing its own publication on the maintenance of natural grass pitches at 80 venues in Ghana, alongside the Ghana FA's publication on CAF’s letter withdrawing the licence of Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Below is the email submitted to FIFA on Friday:

"Attached is an excerpt from a FIFA publication indicating that the Ghana Football Association received support from the FIFA Forward programme for the maintenance of 80 natural grass pitches in Ghana.

However, the Confederation of African Football, in a letter (https://www.ghanafa.org/caf-withdraws-approval-for-baba-yara-stadium) to the Ghana FA on Tuesday, 10 September 2024, stated that the GFA should select an approved venue outside Ghana for matchday three of the Morocco 2025 qualifiers.

This letter raised questions, and I would like to clarify the following:

1. Was the FIFA Forward money meant for specific playing surfaces?
2. Where are these playing surfaces located?
3. How much was allocated to these surfaces?"

In response, FIFA stated: "FIFA helped GFA with assisting 80 match venues in Ghana to maintain their natural grass pitches. This included the installation of boreholes and water tanks and meeting the minimum club licensing requirements for match venue facilities. The boreholes assisted in the maintenance. For a total support of USD 267,273."

However, the FA clarified that the funds were not intended for national stadia, despite stating that the Tamale Sports Stadium, a national stadium, was a beneficiary.

Full GFA statement below:

GFA Borehole Strategy – Facts

1. The GFA made a specific request to FIFA for support for playing infrastructure.
2. The title of the project was the GFA Borehole Project. The intent of the project is derived from this title and is unambiguous.
3. The GFA has never applied for any project from FIFA for the maintenance of pitches at national stadia.
4. The focus of the FIFA grant was the construction of boreholes and the provision of accessories, including, but not limited to, water tanks to facilitate the provision of water to improve the watering of pitches for our Game Centre strategy—RFAs, DOL, and GPL clubs. As captured in all reports and documentation covering the project, this FIFA grant was primarily for the construction of boreholes and water reservoirs for watering pitches.

Repeat: The project was not for the maintenance of pitches at national stadia.

5. Due to the number of clubs playing at the Tamale Sports Stadium at the time, a decision was made to place one of the water tanks and a borehole at that facility.
6. The GFA borehole strategy is a public strategy that was approved by the Executive Council and endorsed at the GFA Congress.

For reference, please find below some of the public statements on the borehole project:

• GFA Borehole Strategy Takes Off at Prampram
• GFA to Invest in Construction of Boreholes to Improve Quality of Pitches
• FIFA Approves GFA Borehole Project
• GFA Borehole Project Reaches Sunyani Coronation Park

GFA Communications