The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has issued a stark warning about the rapidly deteriorating state of the Sekondi Sports Stadium at Essipon, calling for urgent and decisive intervention to rescue what he described as a national asset on the brink of collapse.
According to him, the level of decay at the 20,000-seater facility is “alarming and unacceptable” for a country with Ghana’s sporting ambitions, and immediate action was required to halt further deterioration.
Mr Adams’ concerns followed an inspection tour of the stadium last Friday, accompanied by the Chief Director of the ministry, Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah, and the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
The delegation was confronted with stark evidence of prolonged neglect: corroded structures, failing components, and large sections of
the stadium visibly deteriorating, all underscoring the lack of substantial rehabilitation since it was constructed 16 years ago for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The extent of disrepair now raises serious questions about the facility’s safety, sustainability, and capacity to host high-profile sporting events.
Encroachers on stadium lands
One of the most troubling developments observed during the visit was the encroachment on parts of the stadium’s land by private developers.
Unauthorised structures have sprung up around the facility, posing a major threat to future expansion and the development of essential auxiliary installations.
Mr Adams described the situation as “deeply worrying” and called for the immediate intervention of the Western Regional Coordinating Council and traditional authorities.
“We cannot rehabilitate Essipon while private developers are taking over the land,” he warned. “I urge the Regional Coordinating Council and our chiefs to act swiftly to protect this national asset.”
Rehabilitation works lag
The inspection also revealed that progress on the Phase I and II rehabilitation works has been significantly slower than expected.
These phases include re-roofing with anti-rust materials, replacing spectator seats, refurbishing washrooms, installing air conditioning systems, fitting sunglasses, upgrading lighting systems, and installing a new electronic scoreboard.
However, substantial aspects of then stadium remain untouched. The ministry plans a further round of improvements, including a refurbished playing pitch, modernised public address system, enhanced corporate boxes, improved hostel facilities, tighter security zones, and upgraded dressing rooms, to fully restore the stadium’s capacity to host major sporting events.
Funding and media advocacy
Mr Adams reiterated the need for dedicated and sustained funding for sports infrastructure nationwide. He appealed to the media to support efforts to raise resources through the National Sports Development Fund, emphasising President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to revitalising the sector.
“Sports infrastructure cannot maintain itself,” he stressed. “We need collective support to bring facilities like Essipon back to life.”
Although the minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work completed so far, he was unequivocal about the need for speed.
“The progress is too slow,” he said. “We must accelerate the work to ensure Essipon becomes fully functional as soon as possible.
The government is committed to restoring this facility for the people of the Western Region and for Ghana.”
The minister assured the public that urgent measures will be taken to return the stadium to operation and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to rejuvenate sports infrastructure across the country.
