Isaac Asiamah
Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, says President Akufo-Addo attaches grave importance to sports infrastructure, hence the spread of the multipurpose sports centre of excellence nationwide.
The Sports Minister rounded up his sod cutting trips of the ten regions last Wednesday stating that President Akufo Addo has the youth and sports at heart, and will ensure a fair distribution of the national cake, by way of sports infrastructure.
He said the limited sporting infrastructure has been the reason for the country’s uninspiring results at competitions lately.
The Minister, who wants to write his name in gold with the construction of the sporting facilities, indicated that the initiative is to provide the youth with the platform, so there would be no excuse for failure at future international competitions.
In a post-trip interview in Yendi, he said “The Akufo Addo government sees and recognizes the immense contribution sports can bring to the socio-economic development of the nation, which is why it still wants to commit to the development of many sporting infrastructure across the country.
“The government has also instituted a program to refurbish other existing sports amenities.”
He added “I want to be remembered for these massive investments in sports infrastructure so that Ghanaians will one day say that we had a Sports Minister who invested greatly in sports infrastructure because that is the bane of all our problems.
“The talents are there but the facilities to groom them are what we are lacking and I am happy with the help of our President Akufo Addo, who understands the importance of sports so we are gradually finding a permanent solution to it with these sports centres.”
The campaign started in Accra with the renovation of the Azumah Nelson Complex.
Thereafter, the Minister together with officials of National Youth Authority (NYA) moved to the Volta Region (Ho), Eastern Region (Koforidua), Western Region (Axim) Central Region (Dunkwa-On-Offin) and Ashanti Region (Nyinahin).
Later, the Minister and his team moved to the Brong Ahafo Region (Dormaa), Upper West (Wa), Upper East (Navrongo) and Tamale (Yendi).
The entire project, promised to be completed in nine months by Joe Hackman, the Project Consultant, is expected to cost the Ministry over $18m.
All the centres will have a FIFA sanctioned football pitch, eight-lane athletics track, Counseling/ ICT Centres, Basketball/Handball and Volleyball Courts, Washrooms, Restaurants, Spectator Stands, Maintenance Units and Flood Lights.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum