The Minority Spokesperson on Youth and Sports, Wisdom Kobina Woyome, has blamed the government, for that matter, the National Sports Authority (NSA) for the poor state of stadia in the country.

With the Black Stars set to play Nigeria next week Friday, March 25, for a spot at the 2022 World Cup, the state of the stadia in the country have come up for discussion after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) threatened to move the game outside the country.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Tuesday, the South Tongu Member of Parliament said the government must do more to put the stadia in good shape.

He said the NSA must adopt innovative measures to raise funds to undertake regular maintenance of the stadia.

“Time and again we’ve discussed the need to put out a strategy to maintain these facilities across the country. Government has time and again also indicated their inability because you realise that resources are not available to be able to maintain these facilities.

“There is a suggestion; maybe go the Public Private Partnership (PPP) way to probably outsource, get some event organisers to manage these facilities over the period so that at least you can always put these facilities to use for mutual benefits for the state as well as for private use,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director-General of the NSA, Abdul Majeed Bawa, has stated that the Authority is handicapped in terms of resources.

He revealed that sometimes they get only GH¢50 as proceeds from matches played at the stadia they manage.

“Spectators don’t come but we spend almost GH¢15,000 to maintain the pitch for one game. When you ask the clubs to assist, they don’t, they cry, they don’t have money. Why don’t you pay for the services then we use whatever we are receiving from you to be able to keep the place for you? They said 'no', they cry.

“Sometimes, at the end of the match, we get only GH¢200 after you spent GH¢15,000 to prepare the pitch for the game…because it’s our responsibility to invite security, invite the paramedics and all the people that will make the place safe for the game,” he noted.