Sports Minister Outlines Measures for African Games Facilities Maintenance

Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has outlined measures by the Ministry to ensure that the ultra modern sports facilities used for the African Games Accra 2023 are properly maintained.

Government invested heavily in Ghana’s sports infrastructure, building multi-purpose facilities at the University of Ghana campus and the Borteyman Sports Complex for the Games.

The University of Ghana campus now boasts of a stadium; standard athletics and warm-up tracks, and a rugby stadium. Meanwhile, the Borteyman Sports Complex features a swimming pool with a warm-up pool, and multi-purpose domes.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday to give a report on the Games, Mustapha Ussif outlined measures to maintain the facilities to avoid them becoming white elephants.

For the facilities at the University of Ghana campus, he revealed that they will he handed over to the management of the university, as part of its facilities.

“The University of Ghana Sports Stadium and other auxiliary facilities at Legon will be transferred to the management of the University of Ghana,” he said.

For the Borteyman Sports Complex, the Sports Minister announced that the National Sports Authority, an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is currently managing it in the interim, adding that the Ministry is also considering proposals from the private sector for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to manage the facilities.

The Minister confirmed that the Borteyman Sports Complex will be converted into a University for Sports Development, a project that is currently in progress, and he expressed confidence in its completion.

“As was announced before the construction of the Borteyman facilities and the commencement of the Games, Government intends to convert the Borteyman Sports Complex into a University Sports for Development, for the long-term sustainability of this ultra modern facility,” he said.

“In this regard, a cabinet memo has been prepared and it is on its way to Cabinet for approval. Once it is approved, Mr. Speaker, I will return to the House for approval for the new University for Sports Development.”

Story by Nana Kwaku Boffah.