President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that it 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.

Mahama also acknowledged the deteriorating condition of the Ho Sports Stadium, saying it would require extensive reconstruction rather than minor repairs.

The President said the Ho Sports Stadium is in such poor condition that it will require extensive work, effectively bringing it back to the starting point.

“The Ho Sports Stadium has deteriorated so much that we are going to have to almost start from scratch and refurbish it,” he said.

He explained that the government’s plans go beyond football, with the new and refurbished facilities expected to cater for a wider range of sporting activities.

“We want to make sure that the stadia that we build are not just football stadia,” he said.

According to him, the facilities will include football pitches and athletics tracks, as well as spaces for sports such as basketball and volleyball.

The development comes as work is already underway to improve some of the country’s existing stadiums.

The Accra Sports Stadium, for instance, has been taken off domestic football use by the National Sports Authority while upgrades are carried out to bring the facility up to Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards ahead of Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon later this month.

Renovation work is also ongoing at the Takoradi Stadium, while minor refurbishment works are expected to be carried out at the Baba Yara and Cape Coast stadiums before the end of 2026.

Kofi Adams in November last year announced the government’s plans to construct about seven state-of-the-art sports stadia in the Oti Region, aimed at improving local sports infrastructure.

President Mahama, since assuming power, has on countless occasions expressed his commitment to improving sporting infrastructure across the country.

During the President’s first formal meeting with the press, on September 10, he reiterated that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation is actively designing and costing new stadiums as part of the government’s broader effort to nurture regional talent and promote community engagement.

Speaking at the 65th anniversary of Bueman Senior High School, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building seven new regional modern sports stadiums, with the Oti Region set to benefit significantly.

He also mentioned that his outfit would construct a modern sports complex at Bueman Senior High School to nurture young talent. The planned facility will feature a basketball court, volleyball court, tennis court, and handball court, which will serve both students and members of the community.