“Government will support Kotoko and Gold Stars in continental campaign” – Ghana Sports Minister

Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams has said that, the government will put Baba Yara Stadium in shape to help Kotoko and Gold Stars have a smooth continental campaign.

The Baba Yara Stadium has lost its status of hosting CAF matches, leaving Asante Kotoko in the dark over where to host their 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup games.

League winners Gold Stars are now torn between Accra or Baba Yara Stadium for their CAF Champions League matches as their home ground, the Duns Park, is unfit for next season’s campaign.

In an interview with Radio Gold prior to touring the Baba Yara Stadium on Wednesday July 9, Hon. Kofi Adams made clear the government’s intention to help the clubs succeed in Africa club competition.

“Financial situation has been a challenge for all of us also because we inherited quite a challenging financial atmosphere nationally and the sports sector is not an exception,” Kofi Adams told Radio Gold.

“So it has been challenging and so we will continue to get out there, I have promised them [Kotoko and Gold Stars] that because they are representing the nation Ghana out there and not just their club, we will see what we can do to push them.

“I have planned that within this or next week, my team and I will be in Kumasi to also check the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. This is because the two clubs that have qualified for the continental engagement, Kotoko is based in Kumasi and Kumasi is not too far from Gold Stars, so if we are able to maintain that facility and bring it to at least CAF standard, so that the clubs will be able to have their home games there.

“It will help their fan base participation and sometimes revenue generation for them, so these are also [forms of] support to them so we will go and assess the situation if we can quickly get it sorted and get CAF to come and inspect it before the commencement of the competition why not.

“They should know clearly that, we won’t leave them alone. We will surely give them some support but the clubs themselves must also reach out and then get some sponsors to also support because that will be a big marketing opportunity for the corporate body that associates with what they do.” He added.

Gold Stars won their maiden Ghana Premier League title last season with Asante Asante lifting their 10th FA Cup trophy after beating Division One side, Golden Kicks by 2-1 at the Legon Sports Stadium.