The Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale is expected to undergo major renovation and maintenance works, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has revealed.

The sports facility is among the many stadia being worked on to enhance consumer experience to translate into deeper interest in the local sports.

The Ministry of Sports has embarked on a series of renovation works on the Accra Sports Stadium, Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and the Essipon Sports Stadium in the Western Region.

Mr Mustapha Ussif acknowledged the need to refurbish the deteriorating Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium during a visit to the facility over its removal from the national grid.

Aside from being in a deplorable state, the stadium is indebted to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo) to a tune of GHc466,000.

The infrastructure’s VVIP session, toilet facilities and popular stands are currently an eye-saw due to rusting and lack or the absence of janitorial services.

The Confederation of African Football and the Federation of International Football Association has continued to reject international matches scheduled at the facility due to its current condition.

It is yet to be made public the amount going to be spent to renovate the stadium.

Meanwhile, the Sports Minister has announced that the first phase of renovation and maintenance works on a number of stadia have been completed pending the second phase.

The Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium was formerly called Tamale Stadium. It was renamed by the Akufo-Addo-led government in 2017 to honour the late Vice President Aliu Mahama under the Kufuor administration.

The late Alhaji Aliu Mahama lobbied for the stadium’s construction in Tamale as part of the stadia built to host the 2008 Cup of African Nations in Ghana.

Source: The Independent Ghana