Once a stage for Ghana’s most memorable football triumph, the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra now lies in near ruin — a stark reminder of the country’s failing maintenance culture and neglect of historic sporting infrastructure.
On November 6, 1977, the stadium hosted the second leg of the African Club Championship between Accra Hearts of Oak and Mufulira Wanderers of Zambia.
After losing 5–2 away in Zambia, Hearts of Oak staged an incredible 3–0 comeback victory at El-Wak — a feat forever remembered as the “Miracle of El-Wak.”
Nearly five decades later, that same venue tells a very different story.
A recent visit by The Ghanaian Times revealed crumbling concrete stands, cracked running tracks, and rusted spectator rails. The once lush green turf is now patchy and dry, while broken seats and unsafe structures pose dangers to both athletes and fans.
The washroom facilities are also in deplorable condition, with broken fittings, leaking pipes, and exposed electrical wires. The male washrooms, in particular, were described by visitors as “unfit for use.”
Residents and sports lovers expressed frustration over the decay of a stadium that once symbolised national pride.
“It’s heartbreaking to see a place that hosted the ‘Miracle of El-Wak’ now left to rot,” said sports enthusiast Felix Asante. “Last year, a young athlete injured himself on the cracked track. We’re losing future talent because there’s nowhere safe for them to train.”
A military source, who requested anonymity, told The Ghanaian Times that the last major renovation of the facility was done in 2007, ahead of Ghana’s hosting of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
“It’s been more than two decades since any proper maintenance was carried out,” the source said. “It’s a disgrace to the Ministry of Sports. I urge the government and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, to restore the glory of this stadium.”
The El-Wak Stadium is under the custodianship of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). When contacted, GAF officials directed The Ghanaian Times to submit a formal request to the Department of Public Relations for comment.
Despite following due procedure, the newspaper’s request was declined without explanation.
For many, the El-Wak Stadium now stands as a painful symbol of institutional neglect. Once a proud monument of Ghana’s sporting prowess, it now sits in silence — its cracked stands echoing the cheers of 1977.
As public concern grows, sports advocates are calling for urgent renovation and sustainable management of the facility to preserve its legacy.
Many hope that the “Miracle of El-Wak” will not remain a fading memory, but an inspiration for renewed commitment to Ghana’s sporting heritage.
By Raymond Appiah-Amponsah
#Sports, #Ghana News, #El-WakStadium, #Infrastructure, #Maintenance, #Accra, #GhanaArmedForces
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