Ghana has devised a comprehensive strategy to potentially host the FIFA World Cup in 2038.
The country’s National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) formulated a 40-year national development plan in 2017, outlining the financial and infrastructure objectives necessary to prepare for hosting the prestigious global football tournament.
Director-General of the NDPC, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, confirmed in an interview with Metro TV in October 2017 that the plan was drafted during the presidency of John Dramani Mahama and submitted to the current government in September 2017.
This demonstrates Ghana’s long-term vision and ambition to position itself as a potential future host of the world’s largest football event.
According to Dr. Thompson, the plan includes the construction of a Black Stars stadium with “best 21st Century technology while the roof would be made up of solar panels” will be constructed and connected to road and rail lines.
The long-term development plan also includes hosting not only the World Cup but the Olympics Games.
President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo in his speech after receiving the NDPC plan admitted that it “presents my government and subsequent governments with a daunting task, not so much the implementation, but to stay on track and ensure we have the desired outcome.
“We must be able to monitor our progress, and redirect our paths when we seem to be deviating from them,” he said on September 24, 2017, as quoted by Graphic Sports.
“We must, therefore, make rapid progress, and do things to ensure that we achieve it,” he added.
40-year national development plan
The NDPC led the drafting of the long-term plan after former President John Mahama launched a process for the preparation of a 40-year National Development Plan in August 2015.
The plan aimed to shape Ghana’s future while complementing the country’s existing medium-term development objectives.