Essipong Sports Stadium during the 2008 AFCON
Sekondi-Takoradi stands to benefit from a potential revival of the Essipong Sports Stadium as a venue for international football, with renewed prospects for tourism, investment, employment and major sporting events.
The Sekondi Sports Stadium at Essipong is once again attracting national attention as Ghana explores the possibility of using the Western Region facility to host international football matches.
The development could signal an important new chapter for the stadium, which was constructed to host matches during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament but has suffered years of deterioration and underutilisation.
However, there is an important distinction regarding its current status. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed that Essipong received conditional approval from FIFA and CAF to host the Black Queens’ Olympic qualifier against Mauritius on October 13, 2026. The National Sports Authority (NSA) has subsequently been working towards securing full certification.
As of November 3, the GFA is also pushing for Ghana’s November 12, 2026 AFCON qualifier against Somalia to be staged at Essipong, although the final venue decision remains subject to confirmation.
This distinction notwithstanding, the renewed attention on Essipong presents a significant opportunity for the Western Region to reclaim its place in Ghana’s sporting landscape.
The Sekondi Sports Stadium, popularly known as Essipong Stadium, was built as part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2008 AFCON tournament.
With an estimated seating capacity of 20,000, the facility was intended to serve as a major sporting destination in the Western Region and provide infrastructure capable of supporting international football competitions.
Its construction was also an important investment in decentralising sports infrastructure and bringing major football events beyond Accra and Kumasi.
For years, however, the stadium struggled with inadequate maintenance, deteriorating facilities and limited usage. Problems with roofing, seating, washrooms, electricity and other essential infrastructure affected its ability to host major sporting events.
The situation became particularly concerning as Ghana experienced difficulties securing CAF approval for some of its major stadiums.
The government’s renewed rehabilitation efforts have therefore raised hopes that Essipong can once again become a valuable national sporting asset.
In November 2025, Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams reaffirmed government’s commitment to restoring the facility, identifying improvements to roofing, spectator seating, sanitary facilities, lighting and the scoreboard among the rehabilitation works.
The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, also inspected the project in September 2026 and called for a sustainable utilisation and revenue-generation strategy to prevent the stadium from deteriorating again.
The conditional approval granted by CAF and FIFA for the Black Queens’ October 13 fixture against Mauritius was an important development.
It marked a return to international football for the facility after years of limited activity.
More importantly, it demonstrated that the stadium could once again be considered for international competitions, provided the outstanding requirements of the football governing bodies are addressed.
According to reports on October 20, Acting NSA Director-General Professor Emmanuel Osei Sarpong indicated that the authority was working towards obtaining full certification for Essipong.
The authority was considering the facility as an alternative venue for Ghana’s November international assignment, particularly as the Accra Sports Stadium faces infrastructure challenges.
On November 3, reports indicated that the GFA was pushing for the Ghana-Somalia fixture to be moved to Essipong, although Accra remained the venue stated in the official correspondence at the time.
Full CAF certification would be a major achievement because it would give Ghana another dependable venue for hosting international football matches.
It would also reduce the country’s reliance on a limited number of approved stadiums and provide greater flexibility in organising international competitions.
Perhaps the most significant opportunity presented by the revival of Essipong goes beyond football.
An internationally approved stadium could become an economic asset for Sekondi-Takoradi and surrounding communities.
Whenever Ghana hosts an international football match, hundreds or potentially thousands of people travel to the host city. These include football supporters, visiting teams, technical officials, journalists, sponsors, security personnel and football administrators.
Their presence creates economic opportunities for several businesses.
1. Growth in hospitality and tourism
Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, drinking spots and other hospitality businesses in Sekondi-Takoradi could benefit from increased patronage.
International football matches attract visitors from different parts of Ghana and, depending on the participating countries, supporters from outside the country.
This presents an opportunity for tourism operators to package visits to the Western Region alongside football events.
Destinations such as Busua Beach, Fort Metal Cross, Nzulezu and other attractions could benefit from increased visitor interest.
2. Employment opportunities for young people
Regular international events could create employment opportunities in event management, ticketing, security, transportation, hospitality, media production and merchandising.
Young people could also benefit from opportunities in sports photography, digital content creation, advertising and commercial services.
The stadium could therefore become an important contributor to local economic activity.
3. Increased business opportunities for traders
Food vendors, transport operators, retailers, artisans and small-scale businesses could benefit from the movement of spectators and visitors.
Businesses around Essipong and within the wider Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis could develop products and services specifically targeting football supporters.
The economic benefits would be greater if the stadium hosts events regularly rather than occasionally.
4. Improved visibility for the Western Region
International matches broadcast across Africa and beyond offer valuable exposure to the host city.
Images of Sekondi-Takoradi, its people, hospitality facilities and tourist attractions could reach audiences who might otherwise have little knowledge of the Western Region.
This could support efforts to promote the region as a destination for sports tourism and investment.
One of the opportunities that authorities should explore is positioning Essipong as more than a football stadium.
Although its primary purpose should remain sporting activities, the facility has the potential to host other major events, subject to the appropriate infrastructure, safety requirements and permissions.
These could include:
International athletics and sporting competitions.
National and international football tournaments.
Music concerts and entertainment festivals.
Religious conventions and large gatherings.
Corporate events, exhibitions and trade fairs.
Youth sporting festivals and community development programmes.
Sports conferences and training programmes.
Such activities could provide alternative revenue streams for the management of the facility.
However, the NSA must establish clear guidelines to protect the playing surface, spectator facilities and other infrastructure whenever the stadium is used for non-football events.
The experience of other stadiums demonstrates that hosting commercial events without adequate pitch protection and maintenance can compromise their suitability for competitive football. Essipong must avoid that mistake.
The return of international football could also help stimulate interest in the sport across the Western Region.
Sekondi has a rich football history, with clubs such as Sekondi Hasaacas and Eleven Wise playing important roles in the development of Ghanaian football.
However, the decline of these traditional clubs has contributed to the reduced utilisation of the stadium.
The Western Region has a considerable pool of football talent, but young players need access to quality facilities, competitive opportunities and structured development programmes.
A functional Essipong Stadium could become a centre for youth tournaments, football academies, regional competitions and national team training activities.
The facility could also attract international clubs and football organisations interested in organising pre-season camps, friendly matches and development programmes.
For local football enthusiasts, having an internationally recognised stadium within their reach would restore some of the excitement and pride associated with the region’s football heritage.
Despite the positive prospects, securing temporary approval should not be mistaken for completing the work required to make Essipong a sustainable international venue.
The stadium’s long-term success will depend on addressing several important issues.
Full CAF compliance: The NSA and GFA must ensure that all outstanding requirements are addressed. These include the playing surface, dressing rooms, security systems, emergency arrangements, media facilities, spectator access and other essential match-day infrastructure.
Reliable electricity and floodlighting: International matches and major events require dependable lighting and power systems. Backup arrangements are also necessary.
Transport and accessibility: Authorities must improve access to the stadium, traffic management and parking arrangements, particularly when large crowds are expected.
Accommodation and hospitality: The Western Region needs adequate accommodation and hospitality arrangements to support visiting teams, officials and supporters.
Security and emergency response: Effective crowd management, surveillance, medical services, emergency evacuation procedures and fire safety systems must be prioritised.
Maintenance and funding: A dedicated maintenance budget and transparent revenue-generation model are necessary to prevent the stadium from returning to its previous state.
These are not optional considerations. They are essential to ensuring that the stadium can consistently meet international standards.
The Western Regional Minister’s concerns about the long-term utilisation of the stadium deserve serious consideration.
Mr Joseph Nelson has warned that completing the rehabilitation works without a sustainable management and revenue-generation strategy could result in the facility deteriorating again.
He has also highlighted the absence of a major professional football club regularly using the stadium as a potential challenge. This is an important point.
The NSA should consider partnerships with corporate institutions, football clubs, educational institutions, sports academies and event organisers to ensure that Essipong remains active throughout the year.
The government should also consider establishing a dedicated stadium management structure with clear performance targets, maintenance responsibilities and financial accountability.
The Western Regional Coordinating Council, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, traditional authorities and private-sector stakeholders must also work together to protect the stadium’s land and prevent encroachment.
The investment in Essipong should not become another example of public infrastructure that is rehabilitated at considerable cost only to be abandoned after a few years.
The potential return of international football to Essipong presents an opportunity to change the sporting identity of the Western Region.
For many years, major international football matches in Ghana have been concentrated in Accra, Kumasi and, occasionally, other regional capitals.
A fully certified Essipong Stadium would give the Western Region a stronger position in the country’s international sporting calendar.
It could also strengthen Sekondi-Takoradi’s profile as a destination for international sporting events, entertainment and tourism.
The opportunity is particularly important at a time when Ghana needs to maximise the use of existing public infrastructure rather than continually invest in new facilities.
However, the authorities must understand that CAF’s conditional approval for a particular match is only an important first step. Full certification, regular usage and proper maintenance are what will determine the stadium’s long-term relevance.
The renewed interest in the Sekondi Sports Stadium is welcome news for football supporters, businesses and residents of the Western Region.
The facility represents more than a football ground. It is an investment in regional development, tourism, employment, youth empowerment and national sporting infrastructure.
If the government, NSA and GFA can successfully secure full CAF certification and develop a sustainable management strategy, Essipong could become one of Ghana’s important international sporting destinations.
The Western Region has waited long enough to see this facility return to its former glory.
The immediate priority should be to complete the outstanding rehabilitation works, secure the necessary international approvals and ensure that the stadium is used consistently.
Essipong must not simply return to hosting international football. It must become a sustainable sporting and events centre capable of generating economic opportunities for generations to come.
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