Construction of a multi-purpose sports stadium in Bolgatanga is expected to start before the end of 2026, Upper East Regional Minister Akamugri Donatus Atanga has said.

Atanga told Citi Sports that the government had given assurances about the project, adding that a team was expected to visit the region this month to assess the proposed site before work begins.

The planned facility will cater for several sporting disciplines, including football, athletics, boxing, basketball and volleyball, as well as indoor sports.

The project is expected to include a main football pitch, a training pitch, athletics tracks, a swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, jumping facilities and conference rooms.

The stadium forms part of President John Dramani Mahama’s broader plan to expand sports infrastructure across the country. The 2026 national budget made provision for the construction of 10 new stadia in different parts of Ghana.

According to Atanga, the project could create jobs, give young people more opportunities to develop their sporting abilities and attract investment to the Upper East Region.

“Sporting activities today are no longer just about entertainment. They are also a source of employment and an opportunity for investors to come and invest,” he said.

He welcomed the government’s decision to include the Upper East Region among the areas selected to benefit from the stadium projects.

The minister also urged residents to use the facility to develop their talents and contribute to the region’s growth once it is completed.

“When these facilities are provided, people should not use them for any other purpose apart from promoting their talents to become successful citizens who can help develop the region further,” he said.

The proposed stadium is expected to give aspiring athletes in the region better access to sporting facilities and create more opportunities for training and competition.

The planned site assessment is expected to precede the start of construction, although the completion date for the project has not been announced.

Meanwhile, last month, September, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed that his government has allocated money in the 2026 budget to begin constructing 10 new multi-sport stadiums across Ghana as part of efforts to improve the country’s sporting infrastructure.

He confirmed this during an engagement with Ghanaian champions Medeama SC, Nations FC and Ampem Darkoa Ladies at the Jubilee House during a courtesy call, following Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams’ earlier presentation of the revised infrastructure plans at the 32nd Ordinary Congress.

Mahama said the project aims to address the shortage of modern sporting facilities, particularly in regions without stadiums.

“We have made allocations in the 2026 budget to start the construction of 10 new stadia. Some of the original regions in Ghana do not have stadia, and the six new regions that were created also do not have stadia,” he said.