Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel
Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA) Director General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, says the Accra Sports Stadium cannot host a proposed concert by Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel unless a proper pitch cover is secured.
According to him, the stadium, which remains the country’s primary venue for international matches, is already undergoing partial renovation, with some sections of the seating area cordoned off. Kartel’s management has reportedly written to the NSA expressing interest in staging a concert at the stadium as part of a planned world tour in December.
Ampofo Ankrah told Sporty FM that the scale and nature of Kartel’s performances require an unrestrictive setup, something that poses a major risk to the stadium’s playing surface without a protective cover.
“If you look at the stages they mount and the kind of setup he needs to match his energy, we can’t restrict him. But how do we give him that space when we haven’t protected our pitch?” he asked.
He added that allowing the concert without the necessary precautions would leave the pitch badly damaged. “Otherwise, I might as well write my resignation letter. December 31st is not worth destroying the pitch,” he said.
Ampofo Ankrah acknowledged Kartel’s global popularity and the potential cultural impact of the event, especially in terms of tourism and Ghana-Jamaica relations. “It’s beyond music. It’s a whole statement – a music renaissance, Ghana’s creative appeal, and Kartel’s own redemption story as a born-again Rastafarian,” he said.
