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Ghana’s sports landscape could soon witness a major facelift as President John Mahama has pledged to construct seven new stadia across the country in 2026.
The President made the announcement on Saturday at the Jubilee House, where he met with officials of Bibiani GoldStars and Asante Kotoko, two clubs currently flying Ghana’s flag in continental football.
According to him, the plan is to ensure that every region has a modern, standard stadium.
“The Finance Minister will present the budget in November, and next year we are going to build about seven brand new stadia,” Mahama stated.
“We want every region to have a stadium fit for purpose so that we can improve playing conditions and make our football more competitive.”
Background: a long-standing problem
For years, Ghana’s inadequate sports infrastructure has been a source of frustration for clubs, fans, and even the national teams. The Accra Sports Stadium is the only venue consistently meeting international standards, forcing both Kotoko and GoldStars to adopt it as their home ground for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup matches.
Other once-proud facilities tell a different story. The Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale, and the Sekondi Essipong Stadium, all upgraded or built ahead of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, have seen their condition deteriorate. Of the three, Essipong is widely described as being in the worst state.
Even the Cape Coast Stadium, which was commissioned less than a decade ago in 2016, has also fallen into decline.
Looking ahead
If fulfilled, Mahama’s promise would mark one of the boldest infrastructure projects in Ghana’s recent sporting history, potentially reshaping the way football is played and watched in every region of the country.
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