More than a venue, the Accra Sports Stadium is a landmark of Ghanaian football and a fortress for Accra Hearts of Oak.
With a capacity of 40,000, it stands as a cathedral for the Phobian faithful and a cornerstone of Ghana’s sporting heritage — a place where joy and sorrow are equally etched into memory.
The stadium first opened in 1961 and was officially inaugurated in 1962 with a match between Accra XI and Kumasi XI. Its design came from Alexander Barov and Mrs. Lomax, giving Accra a modern football home.
For decades it has hosted Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, and now Accra Lions FC. A major transformation came ahead of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, when renovations modernized the facility to FIFA standards, completed in October 2007.
Originally called the Accra Sports Stadium, the venue was renamed Ohene Djan Stadium in 2004 to honor Ghana’s first Director of Sports.
The decision was divisive, particularly among the Ga people, who felt their cultural heritage had been overlooked. In 2011, after years of debate, the name was reverted to Accra Sports Stadium, the title it proudly bears today.
The pitch has staged some of Hearts’ most iconic moments, none more famous than the 2000 CAF Champions League final, when the Phobians triumphed before their home fans.
Yet, it is also scarred by the darkest day in African football: May 9, 2001. A late Hearts goal against Asante Kotoko sparked crowd unrest, and a police response with tear gas caused a stampede. Over 120 lives were lost, marking Africa’s worst stadium disaster.
Today, a solemn statue at the entrance stands as a memorial to those who perished — a permanent reminder of the need for safety and dignity in sport.
