Cape Coast stadium ready August 2015
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, has disclosed that the Cape Coast Sports Stadium will be completed by August next year.
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The minister made the disclosure when he, together with the Chinese Ambassador, Sun Baohong, and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Cape Coast, Priscilla Arhin, inspected progress of work there.
The project manager, Tang, made a presentation of the profile of the stadium and indicated that the Chinese-aid project would cost $30 million
He explained that the entire foundation beam and cushion caps, the west, east, north and south first floor stands and west stand floor of the stadium had been completed, adding that work was 46 per cent complete and expressed the hope that it would be completed by August 2015.
"He, however, said they were facing some challenges such as tax and duty exemption on local and imported materials, resident permit for Chinese staff and the need for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to quickly settle the site’s water and electricity bills.
Ambassador Sun Baohong said even though the minister assumed office not too long ago, he had showed lots of commitments and dedication to the completion of the project and tasked the Chinese workers to work very hard to finish the project within the scheduled time.
Mr Ayariga expressed gratitude to the project manager for the opportunity to go round to inspect works at the stadium, adding that he had no doubt that the project would be completed within the scheduled time.
“I am extremely grateful to the Chinese government for the grant to construct the stadium and I am looking forward to establishing similar facilities in all the regions to promote and develop sports in the country," he said.
He assured the contractor that he would convene a meeting at the Ministry to expedite action on the challenges the contractor had raised.
He stated that he would meet the Minister for the Interior to address the issue of resident permit for the Chinese staff and also added that the electricity and water bills would soon be paid by his ministry.
The minister assured the ambassador that the numerous investments the Chinese government was making in sports would not go to waste but rather would be put to good use to achieve the desired results.