Gov’t committed to sports infrastructure dev — Minister
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has said the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo, has made unprecedented investment in sports infrastructure development, contrary to claims in a section of the sports media that the government has not made enough investment in sports facilities.
Addressing the media in Ho and Koforidua after inspecting ongoing construction works on multi-purpose sports centres in the two cities, Mr Ussif buttressed his point on what he said was unrivalled investment running into several millions of dollars, as he provided details of a number of renovation works at existing facilities, as well as new sports infrastructure being undertaken by the government.
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Tour of project
The minister was accompanied on the inspection tour by Pius Enam Hadzide, CEO of the National Youth Authority, the agency spearheading the construction of the multi-purpose stadiums which had FIFA-standard football pitches, athletic tracks, tennis, basketball, handball and volleyball courts, gymnasium, IT centres, among other facilities.
Mr Ussif said the government’s commitment to the development of sports was the main motivation behind the decision to bid and host the 2023 African Games in Accra, as it provided the biggest opportunity for the country to develop more sports infrastructure.
Currently, construction works are ongoing at the Borteyman Stadium as well as at the University of Ghana stadium in Accra with over $195m being committed in the projects.
"There has been recent talk of a lack of commitment by the government to develop sports infrastructure in the country, but the data and incontrovertible evidence on the ground rather points to the contrary," he said.
"Until the government of Nana Akufo-Addo assumed office, our national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Essipon were deteriorating, as they had not received any serious attention for some time.
However, in the past six years, under this government, these facilities have undergone major renovation works and we are continuing to bring these facilities up to standard".
National Youth Centres
During a media interaction after inspection of facilities in Ho, the minister pointed to the massive investment in community sports infrastructure through the construction of 10 National Youth Centres at various stages of completion across the country, as well as the spread of nearly 100 artificial pitches (astro turf) through both state and private initiatives across the country.
Addressing concerns about the slow pace of work of the 10 multi-purpose sports centres, the minister admitted that the project had delayed due to several factors, but reiterated the government's commitment to completing them over two phases.
Mr Ussif explained that contracts had been awarded for six of the facilities to progress under Phase 2.
The six projects are in Wa, Ho, Koforidua, Dunkwa-On-Offin, Dormaa-Ahenkro and Axim.
"We have focused on completing six of the youth centres as soon as possible and work is progressing steadily, as the Ho Stadium shows.
Indeed, no one can be more committed to seeing the completion of these projects than the very government which conceived the idea and started it".