By Makutu Manneh
Bakary Badjie, the Minister of Youth and Sports, has said the newly renovated Independence Stadium will be used primarily for sporting events, with musical concerts and wrestling no longer permitted at the facility.
The minister also said the stadium would host only major league matches expected to draw large crowds, while regular first- and second-division games would continue to be played at their current venues.
Speaking to GRTS following the Confederation of African Football’s provisional approval of the stadium, Badjie said the restrictions were intended to protect the investment made in renovating the facility and ensure it is properly maintained.
“No matter how much you rent the stadium, you can never be able to recoup the investment,” he said.
Badjie said concerts and wrestling events would have to remain at the venues where they have been held over the past five years.
The minister said the government had learned from decades of heavy use and inadequate maintenance at the stadium, problems he said dated back to the 1990s. Going forward, he said, routine maintenance would be a priority to prevent the facility from deteriorating and facing another closure like the one in 2023.
Badjie also outlined plans to make the stadium more financially sustainable, including through marketing and other commercial activities. Revenue generated from those efforts, he said, would be divided between stadium staff and a dedicated maintenance account.
CAF granted provisional approval for the Independence Stadium following three years of renovation work, paving the way for the return of international football to the venue. International matches are expected to resume there in September.
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