Ghana to Build 10 Regional Stadia with GH¢600 Million Allocation, Minister Says Construction Starts December

Ghana will construct ten multipurpose sports stadia across underserved regions in 2027, with GH¢600 million allocated for the projects and the Sports Minister indicating that contractors are expected to move to site before the end of December.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the allocation during the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The GH¢600 million forms part of a total GH¢782 million budgetary provision for the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

The Breakdown by Region

The programme will deliver facilities of varying capacities across ten regions. Seven regions—Western North, North East, Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West, Bono East, and Oti—will each receive a 5,000-seater multipurpose stadium. The Savannah and Bono regions will each get a 10,000-seater facility, while the Volta Region will receive the largest under the programme: a 12,000-seater stadium.

The stadia are intended to support school and grassroots sports programmes, talent identification, and athlete development, extending standard sporting infrastructure beyond Ghana's major urban centres.

Construction Timeline

Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams has said contracts for the ten stadia are expected to be awarded by the end of November, with contractors scheduled to begin work before the end of December. The Finance Minister did not disclose specific project locations or individual cost breakdowns during the budget presentation.

The announcement comes as Ghana prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its independence in 2027, with authorities seeking to strengthen sports and recreation facilities nationwide.

Broader Sports Agenda

The stadium programme sits within a wider sports development agenda outlined in the 2027 Budget. The government intends to complete the National Sports Policy and its implementation framework, finalise regulations under the Ghana Sports Fund Act, 2025 (Act 1159), and review the Sports Act, 2016 (Act 934).

The remaining GH¢182 million of the Ministry's allocation has not been broken down in the budget details provided. How much will go toward national teams, athlete welfare, or the operational costs of the National Sports Authority remains unclear.

A Race Against Time

The infrastructure push also intersects with Ghana's preparations to host the 2027 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for February and March 2027. A CAF technical report following a January 2026 inspection classified Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi as non-compliant with Category 4 requirements, citing a deteriorating playing surface, defective irrigation, and inadequate security systems. Accra and Cape Coast stadiums were rated partially compliant.

The Ghana Football Association has insisted the tournament will go ahead as planned. Whether the new regional stadia—most of which are not among the proposed AFCON venues—can be delivered on schedule will depend on procurement timelines that the government has yet to make public.