The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has started the process of constructing the Black Star Stadium, a multi-purpose sports and events complex in the Western Region.
The stadium, captured in the commission's 40-Year National Development Plan, has been designed to include conference facilities, office spaces, restaurants, retail outlets, a sports museum and a sports medicine centre.
To facilitate the facility’s construction, the NDPC held discussions with the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, last Thursday on the prospects of the project. The delegation was led by the Chairman of NDPC, Dr Nii Moi Thompson.
Dr Thompson explained that the decision to construct the stadium formed part of efforts to advance the long-term development plan to establish a world-class facility outside Accra to support sports, tourism and regional development.
He explained that the additional commercial facilities would generate revenue to support the maintenance and long-term sustainability of the complex.
Revenue
Dr Thompson said revenue generated from the facilities would help to keep the stadium operational and ready to host sporting events, concerts and other major activities at all times.
He added that the country’s limited stock of world-class sports and conference infrastructure had made it difficult to attract major international conferences and regional headquarters of global organisations.
Again, he noted that Accra had become congested while many of its facilities had either deteriorated or failed to expand to meet growing demand.
"Accra is overcrowded, and most of the facilities are either crumbling or have not seen expansion or renovation in years.
It's important that when people say, 'I went to Ghana,' they see other parts of the country besides Accra.
I hope the Black Star Stadium in the Western Region will be the beginning of enhanced decentralisation across the rest of the country," he stated.
The Director-General of the commission, Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, described the engagement as timely, noting that it aligns with ongoing national discussions on decentralising key infrastructure and easing pressure on the capital.
