President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to transform the Ho Sports Stadium into a modern multi-purpose sporting facility as Ghana prepares to mark its 70th anniversary next year.
The President announced an inspection tour of the ongoing redevelopment works at the stadium in the Volta Region, where he assessed progress on efforts to upgrade the facility to meet FIFA Category B standards.
The redevelopment project forms part of government’s broader agenda to improve sports infrastructure across the country and position key venues to host major national and international competitions.
The Ho Sports Stadium has endured years of neglect, with challenges including a deteriorating playing surface, flooding issues and ageing spectator stands affecting its ability to host top-level football matches.
However, President Mahama believes the stadium’s strategic location and availability of surrounding land provide a unique opportunity to develop it into a world-class sports and entertainment centre.
“As we know Ghana celebrates its 70th anniversary next year, and so we wonder by the time this stadium is also 70 years, we would have reconstructed it into a very modern facility,” Mahama said.
“It has a very strategic central location in the municipality, which is an advantage, and it has sufficient land around it to build a very modern stadium here.”
The President explained that government will provide the required funding, complete architectural designs and engage stakeholders before the commencement of full construction works.
“We will allocate the funds, we will do the designs, the designs will be brought back here, public interaction on the designs will be done and after that we will cut the sod for the work to commence,” he stated.
Mahama stressed that the renovated facility will not be limited to football activities but will be developed into a multi-purpose complex capable of hosting various sporting and entertainment events.
“We want it to be a multi-use facility, not only for soccer but it must have other entertainment complexes,” he added.
According to the President, the redevelopment will include commercial spaces such as shops, restaurants and entertainment centres to ensure the stadium remains economically viable even when football matches are not being played.
“The problem we have with most stadia is when we are not playing soccer, we are not doing anything with the stadium. And so this stadium will have shops, it will have entertainment, it will have restaurants and different facilities,” Mahama said.
The upgraded Ho Sports Stadium is expected to feature a modern natural grass pitch with an automated irrigation system, improved spectator stands and facilities that can meet requirements for CAF-sanctioned competitions.
President Mahama also reiterated Ghana’s ambition to develop at least five modern stadiums capable of hosting major continental tournaments, including the possibility of bringing the Africa Cup of Nations back to the country after the 2008 edition.
The planned transformation of the Ho Sports Stadium is expected to strengthen Ghana’s sports infrastructure while creating a new centre for football, entertainment and commercial activities in the Volta Region.
