The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has stated unequivocally that Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel cannot host a concert at the Accra Sports Stadium unless he invests more than €500,000 in pitch protection.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, Mr Ankrah emphasised that while the prospect of hosting a concert of such magnitude would indeed be a significant cultural occasion, the NSA’s foremost responsibility remains the preservation of the stadium’s playing surface, which is vital for hosting international sporting fixtures, particularly football.
“If you look at the stages they mount and the kind of setup he needs to match his energy, we can’t restrict him,” Ankrah explained. “But how do we give him that space when we haven’t protected our pitch?”
The Accra Sports Stadium, currently undergoing renovation works, has sections of its seating area cordoned off, further limiting its capacity. Mr Ankrah warned that without proper measures in place, especially with the kind of heavy stage rigging and intense foot traffic associated with high-energy concerts, the venue could sustain serious and possibly irreparable damage.
According to the NSA boss, any attempt to host Vybz Kartel’s concert without installing a specialised protective covering would jeopardise the integrity of the pitch and compromise the stadium’s long-term viability as a premier venue for sports.
“It’s not just about hosting an event—it’s about the future of this facility,” he said. “If the right investment isn’t made to secure the turf, we can’t go ahead.”
Mr Ankrah concluded by reaffirming that unless Vybz Kartel’s team is prepared to commit over half a million euros to safeguard the pitch, the Accra Sports Stadium will not be made available for the concert.
