The John Mahama-led government is facing questions over its failure to deliver on a promise to complete three new stadia in 2026, as the year draws closer to an end.
With just weeks left before the end of 2026, the government’s pledge to deliver three stadia remains unfulfilled, raising questions about its progress on sports infrastructure and the credibility of its budget commitments.
It will be recalled that paragraph 1107 of the 2026 Budget Statement presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in November 2025 outlined plans to complete three stadia in 2026, with five additional facilities expected to be ready by 2028.
The projects were intended to expand sports infrastructure in regions without standard stadium facilities, particularly the six newer regions and other areas with limited access to modern sporting venues.
However, eleven months after the announcement, none of the three stadia have been reported as completed, prompting criticism from political figures and questions from media trackers about the government’s progress.
JoyNews Research, through its #2026BudgetTracker series led by data journalist Isaac Kofi Agyei, recently highlighted the shortfall, marking the stadium commitment as “unfulfilled” as of early November 2026.
In a post on X, sharing the JoyNews flyer, he wrote, “Three stadia in 2026. That was the promise in paragraph 1107 of the 2026 Budget Statement. Eleven months later, none has been completed, and five more are promised by 2028”.
The development has attracted reactions from some Ghanaians, with NPP communications team member and lawyer Aaron Asiedu Antwi questioning the government’s credibility ahead of the 2027 Budget presentation.
He raised concerns about the administration’s ability to fulfil its infrastructure commitments, asking where the three stadia promised in the 2026 Budget were and whether its broader promises under the “New Economy” agenda could be trusted.
Meanwhile, much of the government’s sports infrastructure activity this year has focused on renovating existing stadiums rather than constructing the three new facilities.
Earlier in 2026, President John Mahama also spoke about budgetary allocations to begin work on up to ten new multi-sport stadia, which would include athletics tracks and facilities for other sporting disciplines beyond football.
However, the specific locations for the initial three projects have not been publicly detailed, while no widely reported groundbreaking ceremonies or construction timelines have emerged.
The issue has since triggered a debate on social media, with some netizens criticising questioning whether the government could reasonably be expected to complete three stadia within a year.
One user argued that the media should consider the country’s prevailing circumstances when assessing government commitments, writing: “The spirit of a news report is as equally important as the fearlessness with which it is reported.
“Fearless ✅
“Spirit ❌
“Don’t take an entrenched position that blinds you from remaining objective in light of Ghana’s present circumstances, Kofi.”
“I think whoever advised the president and the finance minister on this stadium project ill-advised them.
“A stadium is not a house you can just build and put to use in 11 months. I wish he’ll focus on two new stadia (in Bono and Volta) and make conscious efforts to repair the old ones,” the user wrote.
Another Ghanaian defended the government, arguing that budget commitments do not necessarily mean every project listed must be completed within the same year.
The X user wrote, “Bro, it’s a budget; not everything in the government budget to do within a year can be completed. Example, Agenda 111 was supposed to be completed in a year. Budget is just things the government wants to do; it doesn’t mean all can be done that year. Up your agenda, bro”.
However, another commenter disagreed with the criticism directed at JoyNews, insisting that journalists were justified in questioning the government over a commitment and timeline it had openly announced.
“Some of the comments here suggest to me most Ghanaians are actually brainless; someone makes a promise and gives a timeline and a journalist is pointing it out because the timeline has almost elapsed. And you see people saying, can you build three stadia in three years, why did they promise then?” the netizen added.
Meanwhile, with the 2027 Budget presentation approaching and only weeks left in 2026, attention is now turning to whether the Mahama government will provide an explanation for the delay, clarify the status of the three projects and outline when construction is expected to begin.
See the post below:
"Three stadia in 2026." That was the promise in paragraph 1107 of the 2026 Budget Statement. Eleven months later, none has been completed, and five more are promised by 2028. #2026BudgetTracker #JoyNewsResearch #JoyNews https://t.co/qBBX0d15xz
— Isaac Kofi Agyei (@IsaacKofiAgyei) November 10, 2026
