GT Bank Rented The Stadium For Their End-Of-Year Get-Together, Not A Concert – National Sports Authority
The National Sports Authority has denied renting out the Accra Sports Stadium for a musical concert as wildly reported in the media.
According to a new statement chanced on by Ghana’s Hub For Pop Culture & Urban Entertainment – www.nydjlive.com, the NSA reveals GT Bank, rented the Accra Sports Stadium for an end-of-year get-together and not a concert per an agreement.
The NSA further states that the one day will have no effect on sporting activities.
“GT Bank rented the place for their end-of-year get-together (not concert per the agreement we have with them). This one-day programme has no effect on sporting activities in the stadium and did not influence timelines for pitch maintenance by the Green Grass Technology. They are to mount their systems on asphalted areas behind the goalposts but not to use the pitch which is currently being worked on by Green Grass and our Estate workers.”
On Tuesday, December 13, 2021, a video surfaced of work being done on the grass in the stadium leaving many to wonder the exact reason for the closure of the stadium for sporting activities as earlier announced by the NSA.
Read the full statement below.“Concerning issues regarding the use of our facilities, as already explained to stakeholders and the general public, since 2019 the NSA entered into an agreement with Green Grass Technology Company Ltd as a consultant in the management of pitches in our major stadia (Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Tamale).
They (Green Grass Tech) regularly issue reports and recommendations to us for implementation. This is routine. Currently and per the government’s directive, each stadium renovated or constructed comes with maintenance and operation manuals that we adhere to strictly and religiously.
Due to extensive pressure on our facilities due to the high number of clubs and matches per stadium (for instance 400 matches in Accra sports stadium per year instead of the ideal 40), the rate of repairs also increases per unit time.
Clubs that we have a contract with, and are permitted to play are unable to pay the Finance Ministry’s determined rent of GHS 110,000.00 per match (including use of pitch) as indicated in the 2021 LI for Fees and Charges, so NSA does not rent the facility to premier clubs but we co-organize with them and share gate proceeds (OPTION 2). Other clients can rent places within the stadia for activities too per the IGF mobilization mandate.
GT Bank rented the place for their end-of-year get-together (not concert per the agreement we have with them). This one-day programme has no effect on sporting activities in the stadium and did not influence timelines for pitch maintenance by the Green Grass Technology. They are to mount their systems on asphalted areas behind the goalposts but not to use the pitch which is currently being worked on by Green Grass and our Estate workers.
Our consultant in his report indicated that the pitch soil has become acidic with a pH of 4 instead of 7 (neutral). Such acidic conditions in the soil kill our good grass and allow colonization of weeds on the pitch. As we speak now they have applied chemicals that will correct the pH in the next 7 days or so. Until such effect is achieved, and with fertilizer application, we cannot use the Accra stadium pitch for sporting activities.
That’s why we informed our stakeholders.
This kind of intervention is done on all our pitches. Currently, Cape Coast is undergoing the same process prior to the match of the National U20 Women football team, and also at Aliu Mahama.
Please, further explanation would be provided as and when needed.
Thank you.”
source: nydjlive
