'We pray this doesn't become just a political promise' – Gabriel Agambila on abandoned Upper East stadium

Founder of Alagumgube, Gabriel Agambila, has welcomed renewed plans to develop the abandoned Bolgatanga Sports Stadium but cautioned that the latest commitment must translate into actual construction.

His comments follow plans announced by the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, to revive the long-delayed project.

Mr Agambila said the people of the Upper East Region had campaigned for a standard sports facility for years, noting that successive governments had made similar promises without completing the project.

“These are things that we cried for years before this new government. I personally had to go to the Jubilee House to speak to Julius Debrah to consider our region, because we have never had a sports complex,” he said.

“We have seen more than ten ministers come to this same spot to promise building this same stadium, so we would be praying that it is not political talk.”

The Bolgatanga Sports Stadium project has remained incomplete for decades, despite several government interventions and promises to provide the Upper East Region with a modern sporting facility.

The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council recently intensified efforts to secure support for the redevelopment of the facility, submitting a proposal to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ghana National Gas Company.

According to the Regional Minister, an inspection team is expected in the region in the first week of October 2026 to assess the abandoned facility and determine the next steps towards its redevelopment.

The project has become a longstanding concern for sports stakeholders in the region, particularly football clubs and athletes who lack access to a standard facility for major competitions and training.

Mr Agambila has consistently advocated for improved sports infrastructure in the Upper East Region.

In December 2025, he reportedly engaged Chief of Staff Julius Debrah at the Jubilee House over development concerns affecting the region, including the need for a modern sports stadium.

He argued that the region had been left without a standard sporting facility capable of supporting athletics, football and other sporting disciplines.

Beyond the stadium project, Mr Agambila has also appealed to the government to prioritise the completion of the abandoned resource centre in Navrongo.

He said completing the facility would provide an important development resource for communities in the western part of the Upper East Region, including Paga, Sandema, Naaga, Chuchuliga and surrounding towns.

According to him, the completion of the resource centre would ensure that residents in those communities can benefit from the facility rather than having to travel long distances to access similar services.

Mr Agambila's appeal forms part of his broader advocacy for the completion of abandoned development projects and the equitable distribution of infrastructure across the Upper East Region.

The renewed commitment to the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium has generated interest among residents and sports stakeholders who have witnessed several attempts to revive the project over the years.

For Mr Agambila, however, the latest announcement will only become meaningful when the promised development moves beyond official statements and results in a completed facility for the people of the Upper East Region.

The planned October inspection is expected to provide further clarity on the government's proposed approach to the long-abandoned stadium project.