Chinese Government provides RMB 15,850,000 grant for Cape Coast Sports Stadium Renovation Project (Linked to Record ID#30600)

Project narrative

On September 1, 2018 during Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's state visit to China and bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed that called for the cooperation on the renovation and expansion of the Cape Coast Sports Stadium. According to Ghana's Development Co-operation Management Information System (Gh-DCMIS), the Chinese Government grant for this project was worth RMB 15,850,000 ($2,322,025), with project costs allocated in four tranches annually from 2018 to 2021. The construction Cape Coast Sports Stadium was completed on May 3, 2016 by China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. and financed by the Chinese Government (as captured via Record ID#30600). Media reports in 2017 provided evidence of the stadium falling into a state of disrepair just nine-months after original commissioning. According to the National Sports Authority (NSA) of Ghana, the renovation works at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium were being undertaken by China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. and the scope of renovations includes: the extension of the cape coast stadium wall, construction of a special ambulance road (i.e. a special passageway for an ambulance to reach the stadium), repair and installation of all air conditioners at the stadium, the repair of the scoreboard and flood lightening system, repair and installation of fire alarm systems, anti-rust painting of all metal works, installations of new turnstile with WiFi and infrared software, repair of showers and WC, tiling both internal and external, painting of the stadium, and the training of National Sports Authority (NSA) local technicians to handle future operations and repairs. Work had begun on the renovation by August 16, 2019, but due to COVID-19, the NSA noted that the work would not be complete until November 2020. Then, on February 11, 2021, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana conducted on an on-site project inspection, which suggests that implementation was still underway at that time. The Gh-DCMIS identifies September 1, 2018 and September 1, 2021 as the originally expected project commencement and completion dates, respectively. The project was officially completed on September 26, 2022.