The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, says the Essipong Sports Stadium must be brought back to life after touring the facility on Friday, November 21.

The 50-year-old MP for Buem Constituency inspected the stadium alongside the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, to assess the state of ongoing rehabilitation works and the general condition of the complex.

Constructed for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, the 20,000-seater stadium has not undergone any major rehabilitation in nearly two decades.

The facility shows extensive deterioration across several key areas, including the roofing, spectator seats, washrooms, lighting systems, and technical sections. The stadium has also been without electricity for more than three years.

Following his assessment, Kofi Adams expressed concern about the pace of the current rehabilitation process under Phases I and II.

Introducing this concern, he stated that “three years is far too long for such a critical national facility to remain in this state.”

While acknowledging some satisfactory work, he added that “although the quality of some of the work is commendable, the slow pace is disappointing and must be addressed.”

The Minister underscored the national value of the facility, noting that “Essipong is not just a Western Region issue; this is a national infrastructure that must be brought back to life.”

He further emphasised government’s position by stating that “we are committed to accelerating works here to ensure this stadium once again serves the people of Ghana — not only for sport but for wider commercial and community use.”

Current rehabilitation works include reroofing with anti-rust materials, replacement of damaged seats, refurbishment of sanitary facilities, lighting upgrades, installation of a new scoreboard, improved ventilation systems, and new fittings for corporate spaces.

However, the Ministry is considering an expanded scope to fully revive the stadium.

Clarifying this, he explained that “the Ministry is now exploring an expanded scope to fully revive the stadium, including refurbishment of the playing pitch, dressing rooms, PA systems, hostels, and other core components to meet CAF-compliant standards.”

The inspection also revealed encroachment by private developers on lands originally allocated to the stadium.

Addressing the issue, the Minister stated that “we observed disturbing encroachment by private developers on lands originally allocated to the stadium.”

He called for swift local action, adding that “I’ve called on the Western Regional Coordinating Council and traditional leaders to take quick steps to secure the integrity of the facility.”

Kofi Adams reiterated government’s broader commitment to revamping sports infrastructure nationwide.

In his concluding remarks, he stressed that “government remains committed to reviving Ghana’s sports ecosystem and Essipong must be part of that future.”

The Minister assured that the government will take the necessary steps to restore the stadium to full functionality and ensure it meets modern operational and commercial standards.