I Cannot Promise a New Stadium Under the Current Crisis – John Mahama
Flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama, during a media engagement told journalists that he cannot promise the construction of a new stadium if re-elected president due to the country’s current economic crisis.
Ghana lacks a FIFA category A stadium, a situation which always compels the Confederation of African Football (CAF)to compromise on its standard venue requirements so the country can play international matches at home as host nation.
Quizzed on how he intends addressing the sports infrastructure deficit when re-elected, Mr. Mahama said the current economic atmosphere cannot permit him to do so.
"In the current crisis in which we are, I would not stand here and promise that we will build a new stadium," he said.
"But I've said that under the big push, we intend to spend a certain amount of money over five years on providing a good infrastructure to include roads, bridges, agro-industrial parks, and so on and so forth.
"That could include sports facilities. And if we make allocation, then we probably would look at providing such a stadium," he concluded.
The two venues for the 2023 African Games – the newly constructed Borteyman Sports Complex and the University of Ghana Sports Stadium are currently the only sports facilities in the country capable of hosting multi-sports activities.
By: Maxwell Woyram Tsigbe