The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the country’s sports infrastructure.
He described President John Dramani Mahama’s recent inspection of the Ho Sports Stadium as a clear demonstration of a broader vision to spread sports development across all regions.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview last Monday, Mr Ankrah said the President’s visit to the facility as part of his recent two-day working visit underscored the administration’s determination to give Ghana’s decaying sports facilities a new lease of life.
“The President is totally committed to the transformation of sports infrastructure in Ghana. The Ho Stadium inspection is just one example of his vision to spread development across the country,” the NSA boss stated.
He, however, cautioned that it would be unrealistic to expect such a major transformation to happen overnight, urging Ghanaians to appreciate the scale of the undertaking.
The President was accompanied on the tour by the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, and the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddi Adams.
The stadium inspection was part of the President’s nationwide “Accounting to the People Tour”, during which he assessed the facility’s current condition and discussed plans for its redevelopment.
Following the inspection, President Mahama announced that the government had decided to begin designing a modern multi-purpose stadium for Ho.
He indicated that the redevelopment would be completed around the time Ghana marks the stadium’s 70th anniversary next year, creating a modern facility capable of hosting major sporting events.
“As we know, Ghana celebrates its 70th Anniversary next year, and so we want that by the time this stadium is also 70 years, we would have reconstructed it into a very modern facility.
“It has a very strategic central location in the municipality, which is an advantage. It has sufficient land around it to build a very modern stadium here, so we will allocate the funds,” the President said.
The upgraded facility is expected to feature a modern natural grass pitch with a computerised irrigation system, improved spectator stands, and infrastructure that meets FIFA Category B standards and CAF requirements for international competitions.
President Mahama further disclosed that the redevelopment would go beyond football by incorporating shops, restaurants, entertainment spaces, and other commercial facilities to ensure the stadium remained active throughout the week, aligning with the government’s 24-Hour Economy vision.
