Isaac Kwame Asiamah (in a cap), Chinese officials and others at the Cape Coast Stadium
Sports Minister Isaac Kwame Asiamah has inspected the Cape Coast Stadium to mark the commencement of renovation works of key installations of the facility.
The Cape Coast Stadium ? which was built with a grant from the Chinese government and handed over to government in April 2016 ? is to receive a massive face-lift following a three year maintenance MOU signed between China and Ghana in September 2018 when President Akufo-Addo visited China.
The maintenance agreement also includes capacity training programme where Ghanaians will be trained in maintaining the edifice and the country’s other sporting infrastructure.
While expressing his gratitude to the Chinese government for the maintenance grant for the stadium, the sector minister indicated that it is government’s priority to ensure that all the country’s sports facilities receive periodic maintenance, adding that huge sums of funds cannot be invested in providing modern sports edifices only for it to be left to deteriorate.
The minister said he is particularly excited about the training programme for selected Ghanaians to take over the maintenance of the facility and other stadia when the three-year agreement ends.
The Chinese Consular in Ghana, H.E Chai Zhi Jing, stated that the inspection of the stadium and the subsequent meeting with the sector minister officially pave way for works to commence.
The project manager, Jim Tan, disclosed that the renovation works will cover the repairs of the scoreboard and floodlights, replacement of broken seats, repair and replacement of gym equipment, extension of the main stadium, walls as well the construction of emergency routes from the stadium, among others.
In attendance during the inspection were Thomas Adjei Baffour (Deputy Central Regional Minister), Frank Quist (Chief Director of the Ministry), Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Ansah (Technical Advisor to the Sports Minister) and a representative from the Architects & Engineering Services Limited (AESL).
From The Sports Desk