The Sekondi Sports Stadium at Essipong is nearing completion after seven years of closure and deterioration, with the facility scheduled to host its first competitive match on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has credited the intervention of Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams for helping to revive work on the 20,000-capacity stadium, which has remained out of use since 2019.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Nelson said Adams took a personal interest in the project, visited the facility and helped ensure that the contractor returned to the site to continue the rehabilitation works.

“The new minister took interest, actually visited there and got the contractor to be back on its feet to really get the job going, and so I'm happy to note that some progress has been made,” Nelson said.

“At the last count, it was about the seats that were being fixed, and so I think we made huge progress,” he added.

The Regional Minister expressed optimism that the remaining work would be completed to allow the stadium to return to active use.

“Expectation is that it will be fully completed and then, of course, put to use,” he stated.

Essipong Stadium’s troubled history

Built to serve as one of Ghana’s venues for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Essipong Stadium was once an important sporting facility for the Western Region.

However, structural defects, roofing problems, a non-functional scoreboard and vandalism contributed to its deterioration, eventually forcing its closure in 2019.

The prolonged shutdown deprived football supporters in Sekondi-Takoradi and surrounding communities of access to a major sporting venue, while raising concerns about the maintenance of public sports infrastructure.

Nelson previously indicated that the stadium’s condition was significantly worse than the picture presented before the current administration took office.

He challenged earlier claims that the project was approximately 90 per cent complete, including a figure cited in a previous budget and contested by former Member of Parliament Joe Ghartey.

“When we took office, it was clear that it was not as it was painted. There was a lot to be done, and the place was really run down,” Nelson said during an earlier inspection.

“Some of the important things, even the cables and stuff like that, had been taken out by thieves,” he added.

The revelations highlighted the extent of the deterioration and the additional work required to restore the stadium to a usable condition.

$3.1 million rehabilitation brings stadium closer to reopening

The rehabilitation project, estimated to cost approximately US$3.1 million in public funds, has involved several interventions aimed at restoring the facility.

The works include the replacement of seats, electrical repairs, improvements to lighting and the installation of security systems.

The progress made in recent months has brought the stadium closer to reopening, with the October 13 fixture expected to mark a significant milestone in its return to football.

For residents and football enthusiasts in the Western Region, the prospect of watching competitive football at Essipong again represents a welcome development after years of uncertainty over the facility’s future.

However, the stadium’s return will also raise questions about how the authorities intend to protect the investment and prevent a repeat of the neglect that led to its closure.

Nelson calls for sustainable management plan

While welcoming the progress, Nelson has urged the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to establish a clear plan for the stadium’s utilisation, maintenance and revenue generation.

He warned that completing the rehabilitation would mean little if the facility were subsequently left idle and allowed to deteriorate again.

“Once it is done, we should have a good plan in place on how the place will be utilised, so that at least the maintenance of the place can happen. Otherwise, the facility will be left idle to deteriorate again,” he said.

The concern reflects a longstanding challenge in Ghanaian sports infrastructure: ensuring that public facilities remain operational and financially sustainable after construction or renovation.

A structured programme of football matches, sporting events and other suitable activities could help generate revenue to support routine maintenance and security.

The Regional Minister’s comments place responsibility on the relevant authorities to ensure that Essipong’s reopening is accompanied by a practical long-term management strategy.

Lack of a regular Premier League tenant poses challenge

One of the key questions surrounding Essipong’s future is whether the stadium can attract enough regular sporting activity to justify its upkeep.

The Western Region currently lacks a Ghana Premier League club based in Sekondi-Takoradi that could provide a consistent home fixture schedule for the venue.

Traditional Sekondi clubs Hasaacas and Eleven Wise are now competing in lower divisions, while Medeama SC, the region’s only Ghana Premier League representative, is based in Tarkwa.

The absence of a regular top-flight tenant could make it more difficult to generate consistent match-day revenue, placing greater importance on the development of partnerships and a broader programme of events.

The NSA and the Sports Ministry will therefore need to consider how best to make the stadium accessible to clubs, sporting organisations and other legitimate users while protecting the playing surface and facilities.

October 13 fixture marks an important test

The scheduled match on Tuesday, October 13, will provide an important opportunity to bring competitive football back to Essipong following years of inactivity.

It will also offer an early indication of the stadium’s readiness to resume hosting matches and serving the sporting needs of the region.

For supporters who have waited since 2019, the return of football would mark the revival of a venue that once played a significant role in Ghana’s hosting of major continental football.

Yet the lasting success of the rehabilitation will depend on more than the completion of repairs or the staging of a first match.

With millions of dollars in public funds reportedly invested in the project, the priority will be to keep the stadium operational, secure and properly maintained for years to come.

As Essipong prepares to welcome football back, the challenge for the authorities will be to ensure that Tuesday’s fixture signals not just a reopening, but the beginning of a sustainable new chapter for the facility.