Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams has called for a review of Ghana’s growing reliance on artificial turf pitches, warning that the rapid replacement of natural playing fields could have implications for athlete welfare and the environment.
Mr Adams said the expansion of astroturf facilities, particularly at the community level, should not come at the expense of natural grass fields and recreational green spaces.
He made the call at the closing ceremony of the 14th Ghana Garden and Flower Show on Monday, held on the theme: “Green Means Business, Beauty and More.”
The Minister expressed concern about the number of natural playing fields and green spaces that had been converted into artificial turf facilities in recent years.
“Just count the number of fields that have been destroyed and turned into astroturfs, and you know the damage we are doing to ourselves,” he stated.
Mr Adams said while artificial pitches had contributed to the expansion of sports infrastructure and provided communities with facilities for grassroots football, policymakers needed to consider their wider implications.
He raised particular concerns about the possible effect of poor-quality artificial surfaces on athletes, especially young footballers who spend considerable time training and playing on such pitches.
According to him, prolonged exposure to hard playing surfaces could contribute to some sports-related injuries, making the quality and suitability of pitches an important consideration in sports infrastructure planning.
The Minister also pointed to the environmental value of natural grass fields, noting that green spaces contribute to air quality and provide wider benefits for communities.
He therefore urged policymakers, local authorities, sports administrators and communities to adopt an approach that allows sports infrastructure to expand without eliminating the country’s remaining natural recreational spaces.
Mr Adams said preserving parks, natural playing fields and other green areas was important not only for sports but also for public health, environmental protection and sustainable urban development.
He said Ghana’s sports infrastructure agenda should therefore incorporate measures to protect and expand green spaces alongside the construction of artificial pitches.
