A delegation from China Railway Construction (CRC), a leading global infrastructure development firm, has paid a formal courtesy call on Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, to discuss potential collaboration in developing the country’s sports infrastructure.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture in Ghana’s push to expand its sporting facilities. President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government has allocated funding in the 2026 budget to construct ten new multi-purpose stadiums across the country, with priority given to regions currently lacking modern sporting facilities, including Oti, Western North, Ahafo, Bono East, Savannah, North East, Upper East, and Upper West. These stadiums are designed to feature football pitches, athletics tracks, and dedicated courts for basketball, volleyball, and other “minority sports.”
CRC Highlights Global Track Record in Sports Venue Construction
During the meeting, the CRC delegation expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with the Minister and presented the company’s extensive portfolio in sports infrastructure development worldwide. As the flagship subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CRCC) has established a strong reputation in international sports venue construction in recent years.
Most notably, CRCC served as the main contractor for Lusail Stadium, the centerpiece venue of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The golden, bowl-shaped stadium, which seats 80,000 spectators, was completed in 40 months and became the first World Cup main stadium built by a Chinese company as the primary contractor. The venue hosted ten matches during the tournament, including the final.
CRC has also secured contracts for stadium and supporting facilities for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia, including a 46,000-seat professional football stadium and four sports villages. The company’s consecutive involvement in World Cup projects in Qatar and Saudi Arabia underscores its competitiveness and extensive experience in delivering large-scale sporting event venues globally.
The delegation emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability and technological innovation in venue construction. At Lusail Stadium, for instance, the project incorporated rainwater harvesting and seawater desalination technologies, saving approximately 40 percent of freshwater compared to conventional stadium construction. The company also used simulation modeling of temperature, humidity, and wind speed within the venue to optimize spectator seating and media platform layouts, ensuring compliance with FIFA’s stringent standards.
Minister Stresses Importance of International Partnerships
Minister Adams welcomed the delegation and expressed Ghana’s appreciation for China’s significant role in driving development across Africa. He stressed that international partnerships are essential for building world-class sports infrastructure that fosters national unity, promotes public health, and boosts national pride.
The Minister underscored the strategic importance of sports infrastructure to Ghana’s long-term athletic development. He has repeatedly stated that nurturing elite athletes depends on a solid foundation, including modern sports facilities and structured youth development programs. The Ghanaian government has established grassroots sports secretariats and school sports organizations dedicated to identifying and developing sporting talent from an early age.
Adams also outlined a broader vision for sports development in Ghana. He noted that sports should not be limited to competitive results but should serve as a powerful tool for economic development, tourism promotion, and national branding. During the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Ghana launched the “Ghana House” initiative, aimed at transforming sports participation into a platform for tourism promotion, business networking, and cultural diplomacy.
Deep-Rooted China-Ghana Cooperation, Broad Prospects for Sports Collaboration
The courtesy call builds on a long-standing and friendly partnership between Ghana and China. The year 2025 marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with fruitful cooperation across infrastructure, agriculture, and education. In early 2026, the two nations signed a $30 million grant agreement for the construction of a university of science and technology in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region, further deepening bilateral development cooperation.
President Mahama has identified infrastructure as a top priority in Ghana’s cooperation with China, stating that Ghana views China as a vital partner and looks forward to strengthened collaboration in trade, the digital economy, energy, and people-to-people exchanges.
Minister Adams concluded the meeting by once again thanking CRC for its interest in the Ghanaian market and assured the delegation of the government’s support in facilitating potential collaborations and projects, paving the way for practical cooperation in sports infrastructure development.
