Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr. Mustapha Ussif has highlighted what he described as unmatched sports infrastructure provided by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
He listed the state-of-the-art Borteyman Sports complex, over 200 new AstroTurfs and completion of the abandoned University of Ghana Sports Stadium as some of the achievements of the Nana Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
Taking his turn during the debate of the 2025 budget statement and economic policy of government in Parliament, Mr. Mustapha Ussif told Legislature that Borteyman Sports Complex and the University of Ghana Stadium are certified for international competitions.
These modern facilities, he pointed out, have paved the way for the country to host high-profile sporting events, including the 2026 Africa Athletics Championships.
After hosting the African Games in March 2024, in Accra, the country will host the 2026 Africa Athletics championships after World Athletics approved the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
The Ghanaian federation, Ghana Athletics, announced this on its X account in June 2024, specifying that the event will take place in the capital, Accra.
“The Bortey man Sports complex consists of a multi-purpose hall, a thousand-seater, five tennis courts, one of them covered with a stand, a multi-purpose dome, and an athletic track installed by Mundo.
“A world-class athletic installer and all these facilities are certified for sporting activities in Ghana.
“Mr Speaker, the University of Ghana Sports stadium has been upgraded; upgraded to an international standard and built a brand new warm-up facility, which is five metres away from the main dome, which is an international standard.
“And because of that, the World Athletics Association has certified that facility. And that is why in 2026, the African Athletics will be hosted by Ghana, because our facilities have been certified.
According to Mustapha Yussif who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yagaba-Kubori, these achievements demonstrate the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government’s unprecedented commitment to sports development in Ghana’s history.
The sports facilities
The University of Ghana Sports Stadium, initiated in 2004, was completed and commissioned by the Akufo-Addo government on March 1, 2024.
The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremony of the 2023 African Games in March 2024
“At the national level President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo invested in the Borteyman multi-sports complex, and that sports complex consists of an aquatic centre, the aquatic centre, a 10 lane competition pool, an 8 lane warm up pool which is an Olympic standard facility.
“Mr. Speaker, thanks for his Excellency. Today, Ghana can host the World Swimming Championship here in Ghana because the facility is certified by the World Aquatic Body.
“The Borteyman sports complex also consists of a multi-purpose hall, a thousand seater, five tennis courts; one of them covered with spectator stand, a multi-purpose dome, an athletic truck installed by Mundo, a world class athletics installer and all these facilities are certified for international sporting activities in Ghana.
“Mr. Speaker, aside that, the University of Ghana sports stadium has been upgraded to an international standard.
“A built brand new warm up facility which is just five metres away from the main dome which is an international standard and because of that the World Athletic association have certified that facility and that is why next year 2026 the African Athletic Championship is going to be hosted by Ghana because our facilities have been certified.
“Mr. Speaker aside this, the rugby stadium His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo built is the best in West Africa, and because of that, Ghana can host an African Rugby Championship here in Ghana.
“Since independence, we have never had such opportunity, Mr. Speaker and aside this, Dutch motor cricket oval was also constructed, and this cricket oval, Mr. Speaker, is also certified by the World Cricket body, and because of this facility, Ghana can host the entire Africa here.
“And thanks to His Excellency; at the regional level, Mr. Speaker His Excellency launched an ambitious sports stadium in the then 10 regions, which we christened the Youth Resource centres. All the 10 regions simultaneously were given the opportunity to have 5,000 seater sports stadium.
“Two of them have been commissioned Koforidua Sports stadium and Wa sports stadium, yet in this current budget, there is no allocation expenditure for the Ministry of Sports and Recreation for these projects.
“Mr. Speaker, all these iconic facilities need to be maintained. And we all know the culture of maintenance in our country,” Mr. Mustapha Ussif told Parliament.
