Social media users descend on sports minister over 'Ghana has FIFA standard pitches' claim

Mustapha Ussif faces backlash on social media

Some users on X, formerly known as Twitter, have criticized the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, for his claims that Ghana has standard pitches.

They argue that the minister does not fully appreciate the issues in the sporting sector and is making baseless claims to justify his poor management of the country's pitches.

Critics also questioned why the Confederation of African Football (CAF) would ban the Black Stars from playing at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and force them to play at neutral venues if the pitches were indeed up to standard.

These criticisms followed Ussif's dismissal of claims that Ghana lacks FIFA standard pitches, asserting that the Baba Yara, Accra, and Cape Coast stadia meet international standards.

“We have FIFA standard pitches in Ghana. We have two in Accra thus Legon and the Accra stadia. There is Baba Yara and Cape Coast stadia as well. We are renovating the Essipong stadium which will be completed soon. So it is not true we don’t have FIFA standard stadium in the country,” Ussif stated during a meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports on September 24, 2025.

Regarding the Baba Yara Stadium ban, CAF withdrew its approval due to issues like an uneven playing field, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover.

This decision came after the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match between Ghana and Angola on September 5, 2024.

In response, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has instructed the Ghana Football Association to invite CAF officials to inspect the Accra Sports Stadium and the Legon Stadium to determine if they meet the requirements to host Black Stars games.

Read the comments below:

This is the most useless minister Ghana 🇬🇭 has ever had
— Uncle Jet 💀 (@JetKnight001) September 24, 2024

Whiles other countries are building over 200mil pitches, our sports minister is satisfied with that ‘park’ we call a stadium. Sunderlands stadium is even better than Baba Yara
— ALPHA🔱 (@mr_kobbybiney) September 24, 2024

My problem is the people who were listening whiles he was spewing those rubbish without sacking him
— @fkay (@therealestfk) September 25, 2024

He should show us where those pitches can be found Charlie this minister must resign I swear
— Obeng Encok (@EnochObeng7486) September 24, 2024

Look at this, how can sport be developed with such a person as the minister that takes daily decisions affecting sporting activities in the country.
— Nelson Yaw (@NelsonYaw3) September 25, 2024

I think this man is confusing himself with stadium. He thinks the stadium is the pitch.
Like, how can you tell me this story
— VictorMorgan✍🏾 (@octobearconcept) September 24, 2024