Sports complex boosts economy in Cape Coast

Businesses and sports fans in Cape Coast, southern Ghana, are reaping the benefits after the opening of a new sports complex built with Chinese support.

Four months after its official opening, anecdotal evidence shows the Cape Coast Sports Stadium has bolstered the local economy, as traders and taxi drivers take advantages of the crowds attracted by its events.

The $30 million complex includes a 16,700-seat stadium, two basketball courts, a handball court, a small hotel, a restaurant and parking area. In all, it covers 15,800 square meters.

China provided a grant to finance the project, part of its commitment to boost infrastructure across Africa, while China Jiangxi Corp of International Economic and Technical Cooperation carried out construction.

The finished complex was handed over to Ghanaian government on May 3.

Officials in the city, the capital of Central Region, hope the facility will help in nurturing local sporting talent who can compete internationally.

For taxi driver Kwame Addo, he's just happy to see major events going on in his city. "I'm happy, and I look forward to the stadium hosting more football matches and other events," he says.

A food vendor, who did not give her name, was also excited, saying she had seen record business since the complex opened, especially on Aug 14 when the ruling National Democratic Congress drew more than 20,000 supporters to launch its presidential and parliamentary campaigns.

However, Philemon Darlington, a student at the University of Cape Coast, says the government and other stakeholders in the stadium should now work to ensure the country benefits from the cooperation with China.

"The economic benefit of this stadium is not one that traders can totally rely on," he adds. "So far, only about four events have been held there. So what happens on days that there are no events?"

Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, minister for the Central Region, appealed in August to the Ghanaian Football Association to use the stadium for international matches to boost its commercial impact.

In early August, the Black Starlets, Ghana's under-17 men's national team, ran out 5-1 winners against Burkina Faso in an African Cup of Nations qualifier played at the stadium.

The venue is also home to the Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarves, a team in Ghana's premier league.

For China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/02/2016 page3)