Entertainment
Sarkodie barred from using Baba Yara pitch for Rapaholic – NSA warns of penalties
The National Sports Authority (NSA) has warned that Sarkodie will not be allowed to host his Rapaholic concert on the football pitch of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Director-General of the NSA, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, said the pitch is strictly reserved for football and other sports activities.
He warned that any unauthorized use of the field during the concert would attract serious penalties, including heavy compensation.
Mr. Ankrah explained that while the Baba Yara Stadium has been approved as the venue, Sarkodie’s stage and sound systems will be positioned behind the goalpost to protect the playing surface.
He said all measures have been put in place to ensure the pitch is not damaged.
He further disclosed that the NSA is in the process of acquiring pitch covers to make it easier to host non-sporting events without compromising the playing field.
The NSA boss also revealed that several churches and organizations had offered as much as GHS 300,000 to use the pitch, but the requests were rejected. According to him, protecting the grounds for domestic and international football is a top priority.
Mr. Ankrah stressed that although the Authority permits the use of stadium facilities for events, the football pitch itself cannot be used for performances or entertainment.
He concluded that if any condition is breached during Sarkodie’s concert, strict sanctions will follow.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Kumasi metropolis was thrown into a state of frenzy last Saturday as thousands of fans flocked the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for Sarkodie’s Rapperholic Concert that climaxed the 2025 Momo Fest.
Despite a heavy rainfall, the event, powered by MTN, drew unprecedented crowds for the month-long initiative to promote financial inclusion, the use of mobile money, and raise awareness on MoMo fraud prevention.
The musical event was preceded by educational roadshows, cashless market fairs, and community engagement activities across the country.
Vendors at the MoMo Cashless Market and Fair, set up within the stadium premises, offered goods and services payable exclusively through mobile money, giving patrons a live demonstration of MoMo’s utility.
The concert, headlined by multiple award-winning rapper Sarkodie, featured performances from several high-profile Ghanaian artistes including Medikal, Kofi Kinaata, Donzy, Kweku Smoke, and Efya.
But the appearance of Shatta Wale, who joined Sarkodie on stage, took the excitement a notch higher as it marked a rare public collaboration between the two top acts.
The event would go into the history books as one of the largest music gatherings in Kumasi and a fitting conclusion to a festival that sought to blend innovation with entertainment.
Funeral rites for the late Ghanaian music icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, affectionately known as Daddy Lumba, will be held on December 6 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Later in the evening of December 6, there will be a DL cocktail party at the Rattray Park, which will feature top musicians in the country.
Announcing the funeral arrangements on behalf of the family, former Manhyia North Member of Parliament, Collins Owusu Amankwa, said the decision was reached after consultations with Manhyia, government, and other key stakeholders.
The family cautioned the public to desist from disrespecting the legend on social media by spreading falsehood about his marital status.
Daddy Lumba, 60, passed away on July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness.
Following his death, a book of condolence was opened at his East Legon residence for loved ones, friends, colleagues, and fans to pay tribute to his iconic memory.
Subsequently, the government, in collaboration with the Creative Arts Agency, organised a candlelight vigil in his memory at Independence Square in Accra on August 2.
This was later followed by a One Week Observation at the same venue on August 30, which was attended by people from all walks of life.
Born on September 29, 1964, in Nsuta in the Ashanti Region, Daddy Lumba started his music career at a young age. He later joined the Lumba Brothers alongside Nana Acheampong in Germany before launching a solo career.
With about 32 albums and over 200 songs to his credit, Daddy Lumba thrilled the world with classic hits such as “Aben Wo Ha,” “Yentie Obiaa,” “Playboy,” “Theresa,” “Sika Asem,” “Mensei Da,” “Makra Mo,” and many others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
