The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has issued a stern warning to individuals and developers encroaching on lands designated for the expansion of the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, describing the illegal occupation as a serious threat to the government’s long-term sports infrastructure agenda.

During a working visit to the site last Monday, the minister expressed grave concern over the rate at which private developers had taken over large portions of the 99-acre land originally secured from the University of Ghana in 2021 for the project.

“Encroachers are virtually taking over the space in the last three months and developing rapidly. This is not right, and it is wrong,” Mr Adams said.

“I want to send a clear message to all those who are either paying for lands in this area — stop the transactions immediately.”

So far, only 43 acres of the land have been developed, with the remaining 56 acres now in the hands of private individuals. Mr Adams revealed that the government had secured all the necessary legal documentation to reclaim the encroached portions and was working closely with the Ministry of Defence and other key authorities to safeguard the land.

“We have initiated consultations to build a boundary wall around the property to protect it from further invasion,” he disclosed.

During the visit, Mr Adams also inspected key components of the Borteyman Sports Complex and held discussions with engineers and stakeholders on strategies to ensure proper maintenance and long-term sustainability of the facility.

The Executive Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 13th African Games (Accra 2023), Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, also weighed in on the matter, explaining that before leaving office, his team had ensured that the land was duly registered with the Lands Commission.

The Borteyman Sports Complex is one of Ghana’s flagship multi-sport facilities. It features a 1,000-seater Olympic-size swimming pool, a 10-lane competition pool, an administrative block, and a 1,000-seater indoor sports hall equipped to host sports such as basketball, badminton, volleyball, and netball.