TNA Stadium Rift: NSA denies clash with Municipal Assembly, MCE releases statement of ownership

In a statement released on September 18, 2024, the NSA denied any conflict with the Tarkwa Municipal Assembly over the stadium’s ownership, calling such reports “misinformation.”

The NSA emphasized its efforts in maintaining the TNA Stadium and rejected attempts by certain stakeholders to privatize it.

“The claim that ‘community members led by Hon. Kessie expressed concerns over the poor state of the stadium citing neglect and mismanagement under the National Sports Authority’s oversight’ is therefore misinformation meant to cause public disaffection for the NSA.

“What we have done is to reject efforts on the part of certain clubs to personalize the use of a national asset which should be available and accessible to the entire public and all sports including football. It is false that the ‘community’ wants to take over the stadium but true that certain powerful stakeholders are attempting to personalize the use of a public asset for the club,” portions of the statement read.

Conversely, the Tarkwa Municipal Assembly released a statement refuting the NSA’s claims of proper management.

They noted that the TNA Stadium is a community stadium and remains so.

Due to the pitch’s poor condition, the Municipal Assembly has claimed ownership and formed an interim committee to manage the stadium.

“It is therefore not in doubt that ownership is for the people. To ensure efficient and sustainable management of the facility the Assembly (TNMA) has consulted broadly and put together a comprehensive sustainable management plan in this regard.

“However, to save the stadium from the yawning mismanagement jaws of the National Sports Authority, the Assembly (TNMA) is taking over the management of the facility with immediate effect. An Interim Management Committee (IMT) is duly constituted to oversee its management till the full operationalization of our management plan,” the statement read.

The Tarkwa-Na-Aboso (TNA) stadium, home to Ghana Premier League side Medeama, is a modern 12,000-seater stadium built by Goldfields Ghana, Medeama’s main sponsor.

The stadium was inaugurated in August and hosted its first competitive match on September 8, 2024, where Medeama defeated Accra Lions 1-0 to start their season.

Read the statements in the tweets below: