By Yaw Opoku Amoako
Copyright ghanaguardian
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed worry over the sharp contrast between the cost of stadiums financed by government and those undertaken by private entities.
Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday, Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring every region without a modern sports facility gets one, noting that designs and budgets are already being prepared by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
He cited the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa—constructed by mining firm GoldFields—as a clear example of how world-class infrastructure can be built at a much lower price.
“We pledged to provide stadia in all the new regions and those currently without one. The Upper East Region, for instance, has been earmarked for a new sports complex,” he said.
Mahama stressed that the $13 million GoldFields spent on the 10,000-seater Tarkwa stadium stands in stark contrast with the hundreds of millions often quoted for state-funded projects.
“Anyone who has seen the Tarkwa stadium knows it meets a very high standard. If GoldFields could achieve this for $13 million, why does it cost government so much more?” he questioned.
Since opening in 2024, the TnA Stadium has been widely hailed as one of Ghana’s premier football venues and currently serves as the home ground of Medeama Sporting Club.
Mahama’s comments echo public concerns over inflated government project costs and may place upcoming stadium contracts under closer scrutiny. He assured, however, that under his leadership, the priority would be to ensure value for money while expanding access to quality sports infrastructure nationwide.
