The Office of the Chief Operations Officer (COO) at the National Sports Authority led by Kusi Awere Gyamfi has been credited with spearheading significant operational reforms aimed at strengthening the management of sports facilities and assets across Ghana.
Since the establishment of the office, Chief Operations Officer Kusi Awere Gyamfi has led a series of strategic interventions designed to address longstanding operational and institutional challenges within the Authority.
The NSA is responsible for the administration and maintenance of major national sports facilities, including the Accra Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Tamale Sports Stadium and Essipon Sports Stadium, as well as several regional sports facilities nationwide.
However, for years the Authority has faced a number of operational difficulties, including encroachment on sports lands, inadequate documentation of assets, security concerns at facilities, and increasing utility management challenges.
To confront these issues, the COO’s office under Mr Awere introduced a coordinated operational management approach to improve efficiency and safeguard national sports infrastructure.
Protecting NSA Lands and Assets
One of the key achievements of Mr Awere’s office has been the recovery and protection of NSA lands and properties.
The Authority has long struggled with encroachment and unauthorised occupation of sports lands in various parts of the country. Under the leadership of the COO, coordinated efforts have been undertaken to identify affected properties, engage local authorities and state institutions, and initiate processes to reclaim and protect strategic sports lands.
These efforts are expected to secure valuable national assets and prevent further loss of sports infrastructure.
Establishing a National Asset Register
Another major initiative introduced by the COO’s office is the documentation and registration of NSA properties nationwide.
Prior to the reforms, the Authority lacked a comprehensive asset register for its lands and facilities. Under Mr Awere’s supervision, steps have been taken to document sports infrastructure across the country, facilitate the formal registration of these properties with relevant state institutions, and develop a centralised database to safeguard the Authority’s assets.
The initiative is regarded as a critical step towards improving transparency and long-term asset management within the NSA.
Strengthening Security at Sports Facilities
Security management has also been a major focus of the COO’s office.
Sports facilities across the country have faced recurring security challenges, including vandalism and damage to infrastructure. In response, the COO coordinated security assessments and worked with relevant agencies to strengthen protection at key facilities nationwide.
The intervention aims to preserve vital sports infrastructure and ensure the safety of both athletes and spectators.
Coordinating International Sporting Events
Mr Awere’s office has also played an important role in the operational coordination of international sporting events hosted in Ghana.
These include matches involving the Ghana national football team in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Such events require strict adherence to international operational standards relating to stadium readiness, security and facility management. The COO’s office has provided technical oversight to ensure that Ghana’s sports facilities meet these requirements.
Addressing Operational Capacity
As part of efforts to strengthen the Authority’s operational capacity, management recruited seventeen additional personnel to support key operational areas.
The new staff members provide support in sports development and promotion, facility supervision, operations coordination, security services, asset documentation, and administrative and technical services.
According to the Authority, the personnel have already contributed significantly to improving the operational efficiency of the organisation.
Strengthening Institutional Capacity
Officials say the creation of the COO office has helped bridge critical operational gaps within the Authority and improve coordination across various departments.
With increasing demands on Ghana’s sports infrastructure, particularly in hosting international competitions and managing national facilities, the office is expected to play an even greater role in strengthening the management of sports assets across the country.
Observers within the sports sector say the reforms led by Mr Awere represent an important step towards improving governance, operational efficiency and the long-term protection of Ghana’s sports infrastructure.