President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, says he wants the Ho Sports Stadium to be reconstructed into a modern sporting facility by Ghana’s 70th anniversary next year.
The President made the comments after visiting the facility in the Volta Region to assess progress on the ongoing redevelopment works.
The Ho Sports Stadium is currently undergoing major upgrades aimed at improving the venue to meet FIFA Category B standards, with plans to make it suitable for hosting major national and international sporting events.
The facility had previously suffered from years of neglect, with a deteriorated pitch, flooding issues and ageing spectator stands affecting its ability to host professional competitions.
Mahama believes the stadium’s strategic location and available land make it ideal for transformation into a world-class sporting and entertainment hub.
“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.”
“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 said government will allocate funds, complete the necessary designs and engage the public before construction begins.
“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.”
Mahama also stressed that the renovated Ho Stadium will not be limited to football activities but will become a multi-purpose facility.
“We want it to be a multi-use facility, not only for soccer but it must have other entertainment complexes.”
He explained that the project will include commercial and entertainment spaces such as shops, restaurants and other facilities to ensure the stadium remains active beyond football matches.
“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.”
The President added that the upgraded stadium will feature a modern grass pitch with an automated irrigation system, different categories of stands and facilities capable of hosting CAF-sanctioned competitions.
He also revealed Ghana’s ambition to develop at least five stadiums capable of hosting major continental tournaments, with hopes of bringing the Africa Cup of Nations back to the country after hosting the competition in 2008.
