The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has moved to clear the air regarding the use of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for this year’s Rapperholic concert organised by Sarkodie.
The much-anticipated festival, headlined annually by award-winning rapper Sarkodie, is set for this weekend at the Kumasi venue.
Concerns had been raised about the possibility of the main playing surface being used for the event.
Addressing the issue on Accra-based Asempa FM, Ampofo Ankrah emphasised that the concert would not be allowed on the stadium pitch.
“Sarkodie is prohibited from using the pitch to host the Rapperholic event,” he stated.
He explained that although there is an agreement outlining fines or penalties if the rules are breached, the NSA’s main focus is on protecting the pitch rather than enforcing sanctions.
“We are aware that there is an agreement in place stating that a penalty or fine will be incurred should that happen, but we are not interested in pursuing that. There are no pitch covers, so we have to put measures in place to ensure that the pitch is safe.
“The pitch is important to us, and there is no way the event will be hosted on the pitch,” he added.
However, Sarkodie has assured full compliance with the Sports Authority’s regulations.
Sarkodie in an X post to publicly affirm his commitment to upholding all set rules said “The rules were set from day one, and we are not ready to break them,” reinforcing his respect for the guidelines laid down by the sports authority.
💯 the rules were set from day 1 and we are not ready to break it https://t.co/X181QOSLcg
— Sarkodie (@sarkodie) September 24, 2025
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium is currently undergoing renovation works to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA requirements. As a result, safeguarding the playing surface remains a top priority for the NSA.
Rapperholic was first held on December 24, 2012, following the release of Sarkodie’s Rapperholic album earlier that year.
What began as a concert to celebrate his growing discography quickly transformed into a national event, featuring top-tier Ghanaian and international artists and celebrating Ghanaian hip-hop culture.
Over the years, the event has hosted music heavyweights including Becca, Efya, Obrafour, Kidi, Kwesi Arthur, Strongman, Korede Bello, and Nigeria’s Big Shaq.
It has consistently drawn massive audiences, though it has also faced its fair share of logistical challenges, most notably the overcrowding at the 2018 edition, which drew public criticism.
The 2019 edition, dubbed Rapperholic Unstoppable ’19, took place at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), where Sarkodie paid emotional tribute to his late lawyer and mentor Cynthia Quarcoo during a powerful performance.
For many fans in Kumasi and surrounding regions, this year’s edition of Rapperholic feels like a long-awaited homecoming. Sarkodie, though born in Tema, has strong ties to the Ashanti Region, and his decision to bring the concert to the Manhyia heartland is viewed as a gesture of gratitude.
