Ghana should invest betting tax revenues in sports infrastructure

CAF Media Officer, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, has suggested Ghana’s government could use revenues from sports betting taxes to maintain and improve the country’s sports infrastructure, particularly stadiums, amid an ongoing crisis surrounding the condition of pitches.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently warned Ghana of a potential change of venue for future matches due to concerns over the playing surface at the Baba Yara Stadium, which hosted the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola.

The poor state of the pitch prompted CAF’s warning, putting the next AFCON qualifier against Sudan at risk of being moved to a neutral venue, with options including Togo, Nigeria, or Ivory Coast.

In response to CAF’s directive, Ghana’s National Sports Authority has taken decisive action by closing three major stadiums—Baba Yara Stadium, Accra Sports Stadium, and Cape Coast Stadium—for maintenance.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, September 18, Sannie Daara highlighted the potential for betting tax revenues to be channelled into maintaining and upgrading the country’s stadiums.

“I think we should start changing our mentality. There’s a lot of money the government is making from sports betting in this country, and I’m sure one day the government might collect over a million dollars in sports betting taxes alone,” – he said.

He argued that instead of redirecting funds elsewhere, a portion of these revenues could be invested in stadium upkeep and pitch maintenance.

“Why can’t we allocate some of this money towards stadium maintenance and hire the right, qualified people to manage the facilities? Political appointments can be made in other areas, but we need technical experts to ensure our stadiums meet international standards.”

Sannie Daara’s remarks come at a time when the state of Ghana’s sports infrastructure is under heavy scrutiny, with fans and stakeholders calling for long-term solutions to the country’s stadium crisis.

Source: myjoyonline.com

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