We will revamp existing stadiums as we look to build new ones- Kofi Adams
Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has pledged a comprehensive refurbishment of the country’s existing sports facilities, while reaffirming President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to building new stadiums during his reign.
Speaking to Channel One, Adams—who also serves as Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency—criticized past renovation efforts as superficial and wasteful, citing millions of cedis spent with little visible impact.
“We are not just going to renovate, we are going to refurbish [existing stadiums],” Adams said. “Huge sums of money have been spent in the name of renovation, but we don’t see anything. We must properly refurbish the stadia to a standard that is very acceptable.”
Currently, the Essipong Stadium in Secondi and Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi have been closed down as they are in deplorable state and are not fit to host any CAF or FIFA-sanctioned matches. They are set to undergo comprehensive overhaul.
Accra Sports Stadium is currently the only venue cleared for CAF and FIFA-sanctioned matches; however, it also has sections cordoned off due to safety concerns. Also, there are several other regional facilities that have fallen into disrepair after years of neglect.
Adams emphasized that the ministry’s approach will go beyond surface-level fixes, focusing on structural integrity, safety, and international standards:
“We will also build in regions that do not have anything that they can refer to as a stadium,” he added.
This aligns with President Mahama’s broader infrastructure pledge, which includes seven new stadiums aimed at decentralizing sports development and promoting regional equity.
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