Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has announced plans to end the long-standing practice of housing Ghana’s national teams in private hotels, unveiling government initiatives to establish purpose-built camping facilities.
Historically, the Black Stars and Black Queens have stayed in hotels ahead of major competitions, while other national squads relied on the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
Speaking on The Arena on Woezor TV, the minister detailed plans to create modern camps designed specifically for national teams.
He revealed that the Borteyman enclave, which hosted events during the 2023 African Games, will be further developed to include accommodation and training facilities for national squads.
The Winneba Sports College is also slated for a major upgrade.
“It is part of President Mahama’s agenda, and we are looking at developing the Borteyman land very well to have such facilities and also renovating the Winneba Sports College to make sure that we make it like a three-star or a type of facility where it can serve as a good camping place for our national teams.
The minister added that the government aims to establish multiple centres to relieve pressure on existing facilities and reduce hotel expenditures.
“We will have Winneba to serve one purpose, and when we develop the Bortyeman land also, we will have such a facility, so we don’t have to be camping our national teams in hotels.”
Adams also highlighted plans to collaborate with the Ghana Football Association to enhance the Ghanaman Soccer of Excellence, creating additional options for hosting and training national teams.
“The Ghanaman Soccer of Excellence, which is also being developed by the GFA, we want to develop this to another centre where we host and camp the teams, so we can have variety, so we don’t have to camp our national teams in hotels,” he added.