The $145 million Borteyman Sports Complex, recently the venue for the 2023 African Games, is gaining attention after a video emerged showing a church service being conducted in one of its halls.
The hall, which hosted various indoor sports events during the month-long games held in Accra three months ago, was captured in a viral video on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), showing a church service taking place in one of the facility’s domes.
This incident has sparked concerns about the potential neglect and poor maintenance of the complex, echoing the fate of many luxurious sports facilities that have deteriorated over time.
The Borteyman Sports Complex, featuring several tennis courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a handball court, is slated to be transformed into a Sports University following the African Games, according to Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif.
The situation brings to mind other sports facilities like the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi and the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale, which were constructed for the 2008 AFCON but have since fallen into disrepair. The Essipong Stadium, in particular, is now virtually unusable due to its poor condition.
A video showing the dire state of the pitch at the Aliu Mahama Stadium also surfaced online recently, during the BAC Group All-Star Festival, which featured Black Stars players Andre Dede Ayew and Fatawu Issahaku.