Concerned youth groups, football supporters, traditional leaders, sports administrators and residents of Obuasi have petitioned AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Limited, accusing the mining company of allowing community sports facilities to deteriorate through years of neglect, abandonment and poor management.
The petitioners say the situation has contributed to the steady decline of sports development in the mining town and has deprived many young people of opportunities to nurture their talents.
They also stressed the urgent need to revive Ashanti Gold Football Club, which has remained inactive for several years, describing the club as an important symbol of community pride and a key platform for youth development.
The group is therefore calling on AngloGold Ashanti to take immediate steps to rehabilitate sporting infrastructure inherited from the former Ashanti Goldfields Corporation and renew its commitment to sports development across the Adansi traditional area.
According to the petitioners, restoring these facilities and supporting football development would not only preserve Obuasi’s rich sporting heritage but also create meaningful opportunities for the youth and strengthen community engagement.
In a petition addressed to AngloGold Ashanti and copied to the general public, stakeholders voiced deep concern over the deteriorating condition of major sporting facilities in Obuasi, including the Len Clay Sports Stadium, Ofori Park, community football pitches and other youth development centres.
The petitioners recalled that Obuasi was once recognised as one of Ghana’s foremost sporting hubs, a reputation built largely on significant investments by the former Ashanti Goldfields Corporation. They noted that the town enjoyed a thriving sports culture, particularly during the tenure of former Chief Executive Officer Sir Sam Jonah, whose leadership helped drive the development of sports infrastructure and talent.
According to the group, years of neglect have left many of these facilities in poor condition, limiting opportunities for young people to participate in sports. They cited deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate maintenance of playing fields, restricted public access and a lack of investment in rehabilitation and modernisation as major concerns.
The petition also highlighted the collapse of AshantiGold Sporting Club, describing it as more than just a football team. The club, they said, was a source of pride and unity for the people of Obuasi and created opportunities for thousands of young residents to pursue their sporting ambitions.
The stakeholders warned that the continued decline of sports infrastructure and institutions threatens the development of future talent and undermines the town’s long-standing sporting heritage.
Stakeholders in Obuasi have renewed calls for urgent action to revive sports development in the municipality, citing the decline of football infrastructure and the challenges facing local clubs.
According to the group, Ashanti Gold once played a vital role in Ghanaian football and served as a symbol of pride for the mining community. Its decline, they say, has left a significant gap in the area’s sporting landscape.
The stakeholders also expressed concern about the difficulties confronting F.C. AshantiGold Limited, a community-driven club formed by traditional leaders, football administrators and residents to revive football in Obuasi.
They noted that although the club adopted the AshantiGold name as a gesture of partnership and reconciliation with AngloGold Ashanti, it continues to face challenges, particularly in accessing adequate facilities for matches, training and player development.
The petitioners stressed that their demands are not a request for charity but a call for responsible corporate citizenship from a company that has benefited from the community’s natural resources over the years.
Among their key demands is the immediate rehabilitation of the Len Clay Sports Stadium, Ofori Park and other sports facilities under the control of AngloGold Ashanti. They are also calling for the creation of a transparent management structure that guarantees community access to these facilities.
In addition, the group wants greater investment in grassroots football, school sports and youth development programmes to help nurture the next generation of talent.
The stakeholders are urging AngloGold Ashanti to work closely with traditional authorities, the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, sports administrators and community representatives to determine a sustainable management model for the facilities.
They further appealed for sponsorship and strategic support for F.C. AshantiGold Limited as part of broader efforts to restore Obuasi’s sporting identity.
The petition comes amid growing frustration among residents who believe sports development in the municipality has been neglected for years.
Despite these concerns, the group has encouraged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, emphasising that constructive dialogue and meaningful corporate engagement offer the best path to lasting solutions.
They also called on government agencies, sports authorities and civil society organisations to support efforts aimed at restoring what they describe as Obuasi’s lost sporting glory.