{"id":4889,"date":"2026-11-04T00:02:04","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T00:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/?p=4889"},"modified":"2026-11-04T00:02:04","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T00:02:04","slug":"essipong-stadium-caf-approval-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/04\/essipong-stadium-caf-approval-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"Essipong Stadium: CAF Approval Could Put Western Region Back on Ghana\u2019s International Football Map"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Essipong Stadium: From AFCON legacy to renewed international prospects<\/h2>\n

The Sekondi Sports Stadium, popularly known as Essipong Stadium, was built as part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2008 AFCON tournament.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Its construction was also an important investment in decentralising sports infrastructure and bringing major football events beyond Accra and Kumasi.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The situation became particularly concerning as Ghana experienced difficulties securing CAF approval for some of its major stadiums.<\/p>\n

The government’s renewed rehabilitation efforts have therefore raised hopes that Essipong can once again become a valuable national sporting asset.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

What CAF’s conditional approval means for Essipong<\/h2>\n

The conditional approval granted by CAF and FIFA for the Black Queens’ October 13 fixture against Mauritius was an important development.<\/p>\n

It marked a return to international football for the facility after years of limited activity.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Full CAF certification would be a major achievement because it would give Ghana another dependable venue for hosting international football matches.<\/p>\n

It would also reduce the country’s reliance on a limited number of approved stadiums and provide greater flexibility in organising international competitions.<\/p>\n

The economic prospects for Sekondi-Takoradi and the Western Region<\/h2>\n

Perhaps the most significant opportunity presented by the revival of Essipong goes beyond football.<\/p>\n

An internationally approved stadium could become an economic asset for Sekondi-Takoradi and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Their presence creates economic opportunities for several businesses.<\/p>\n

1. Growth in hospitality and tourism<\/p>\n

Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, drinking spots and other hospitality businesses in Sekondi-Takoradi could benefit from increased patronage.<\/p>\n

International football matches attract visitors from different parts of Ghana and, depending on the participating countries, supporters from outside the country.<\/p>\n

This presents an opportunity for tourism operators to package visits to the Western Region alongside football events.<\/p>\n

Destinations such as Busua Beach, Fort Metal Cross, Nzulezu and other attractions could benefit from increased visitor interest.<\/p>\n

2. Employment opportunities for young people<\/p>\n

Regular international events could create employment opportunities in event management, ticketing, security, transportation, hospitality, media production and merchandising.<\/p>\n

Young people could also benefit from opportunities in sports photography, digital content creation, advertising and commercial services.<\/p>\n

The stadium could therefore become an important contributor to local economic activity.<\/p>\n

3. Increased business opportunities for traders<\/p>\n

Food vendors, transport operators, retailers, artisans and small-scale businesses could benefit from the movement of spectators and visitors.<\/p>\n

Businesses around Essipong and within the wider Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis could develop products and services specifically targeting football supporters.<\/p>\n

The economic benefits would be greater if the stadium hosts events regularly rather than occasionally.<\/p>\n

4. Improved visibility for the Western Region<\/p>\n

International matches broadcast across Africa and beyond offer valuable exposure to the host city.<\/p>\n

Images of Sekondi-Takoradi, its people, hospitality facilities and tourist attractions could reach audiences who might otherwise have little knowledge of the Western Region.<\/p>\n

This could support efforts to promote the region as a destination for sports tourism and investment.<\/p>\n

Essipong could become a major international events centre<\/h2>\n

One of the opportunities that authorities should explore is positioning Essipong as more than a football stadium.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

These could include:<\/p>\n