By: Kwame Bediako
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has affirmed that existing sports facilities will receive major refurbishments, as President John Dramani Mahama prepares to fulfill his pledge to build seven new stadiums next year. This announcement comes as part of a broader effort to overhaul the country’s sporting infrastructure.
The Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi remain closed for renovation, while numerous other venues have suffered from years of poor maintenance. The Accra Sports Stadium, the only venue currently certified to host CAF and FIFA matches, also has portions cordoned off due to safety concerns.
In an interview with Channel One, Kofi Adams emphasized the importance of genuine upgrades rather than mere cosmetic fixes. “We are not just going to renovate, we are going to refurbish [existing stadiums],” he stated.
Reflecting on past efforts, he said, “When I took over [as Minister] and looked through the documents, huge sums of money—millions of cedis—had been spent in the name of renovation, but we don’t see anything.”
The Minister added, “We think that we must properly refurbish the stadia that we have to a standard that is very acceptable, that will be worked on.”
Beyond refurbishment, Adams revealed the government’s commitment to constructing stadiums in regions currently lacking adequate sports infrastructure.
