Video of children swimming on Effiakuma AstroTurf after heavy rain causes stir

An artificial football pitch in Effiakuma, Western Region, was completely flooded over the weekend after hours of continuous rainfall in Takoradi.

The flooding has sparked renewed concern about poor drainage systems at some of Ghana’s newly built recreational centres.

In a video that quickly went viral on social media, dozens of residents — mostly children and teenagers — were seen swimming and playing football in the submerged astro turf, which looked more like a swimming pool than a sports field.

The video was first shared on Facebook by retired footballer David Tetteh Botchway, now a coach at Adiembra Secondary School in Sekondi.

The facility, reportedly built at a cost of $200,000, was funded by Ghana Gas and completed in 2018 as part of efforts to promote grassroots football in the area.

At the time of commissioning, then-Member of Parliament for Effia, Joseph Cudjoe, said the pitch was part of a broader initiative to harness local football talent.

“This is where the awakening of the national teams that we want will begin,” Cudjoe stated at the launch.

Although the pitch was officially opened to the public in 2020, drainage problems have remained a persistent issue. Coach Tetteh, who also manages Sedan FC, said this wasn’t the first time the facility had flooded.

“Usually, after a few hours of rain, the surface gets filled. This time, the rain lasted much longer, so I’m not surprised it was completely underwater,” he told Joy Sports.

The recent downpour appears to have once again overwhelmed the pitch’s drainage system, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure review and maintenance.