In an exciting announcement, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia revealed that six out of the ten sports stadia being constructed by the government in Ghana’s ten regions are ready for commissioning.
This news was disclosed during the launch of the 100-day countdown to the African Games Accra 2023.
The facilities, located in Borteyman and the University of Ghana, reflect the government’s commitment to hosting the Games and supporting the development of sports in the country.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized the government’s investment in these state-of-the-art facilities, stating, “The construction of these magnificent, multi-purpose facilities at Borteyman and the University of Ghana for the African Games clearly demonstrate our government’s commitment to the development of much-needed sports infrastructure in Ghana.” He further mentioned that significant renovations have already been carried out on the Accra Sports Stadium, Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, and the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Among the ten new sports stadia, six have been completed. These include Wa, Dunkwa on Offin, Axim, Dormaa Ahenkro, Ho, and Koforidua.
The commissioning will begin soon, starting with the Koforidua Sports Stadium before the end of the year.
The remaining four are expected to be finished by next year.
Additionally, the government is making strides in developing sports infrastructure at the community level.
Dr. Bawumia announced that a total of 153 astro turfs have been constructed across the country, significantly increasing the availability of sporting facilities.
He highlighted the government’s commitment, stating, “When we came into office, Ghana had only three public astro turfs in the country, but in seven years, we have built 153.”
As the government continues to invest in national, regional, and community sports facilities, Dr. Bawumia called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other stakeholders involved to prioritize the maintenance of these facilities.
He emphasized the importance of upkeep, stating, “Maintaining these facilities is as important as building them, so I want to urge the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other stakeholders in charge of these facilities to prioritize maintenance.”
The newly constructed sports stadia are multi-purpose, equipped with international standard facilities such as football pitches, 8-lane athletics tracks, tennis courts, basketball courts, conference rooms, and IT and skills training centers for the youth. These facilities aim to provide the right infrastructure and opportunities for the development of sports in Ghana.
With these developments, Ghana looks forward to hosting the African Games Accra 2023 and further advancing sports in the country.
Source: Vincent Kubi