NSC to prosecute people who destroy stadium facilities

Soccer fans who come to the Accra Sports Stadium to steal and destroy facilities have been warned to desist from such acts or risk being prosecuted if caught by a special task force to be set up by the National Sports Council (NSC).

Briefing newsmen during a tour of facilities to see the extent of damage, Mr. Hamid Issaka, a Public Relations Officer of the (NSC) said "if the rate of destruction continues, we might end up at the pre-renovation state in no time"

He said at the moment, 184 plastic chairs, of which 168 from the upper terrace and 16 from the Osu stand, have been destroyed.

"I believe this spate of destruction may be due to people's perception toward anything government and this have to change, since money used for repairs can be used elsewhere"

At the ticket-selling booth, all the electrical fittings to provide light during evening matches have been removed, forcing NSC electricians to improvise to ensure that ticket sellers have lights to do their job.

Mr. Issaka said, most taps, locks and water closets have all been removed or destroyed, causing flooding any time the place is used.

He revealed that during the FA cup semi-finals between Okwawu and Goldfields, fans who came to the stadium for the second match between Hearts and Dawu, which had been rescheduled due to power failure, vandalised buses of the NSC which subsequently withheld the gate proceeds of the match.

He said they plan meeting with Clubs that use the stadium to impress on their followers the need to help maintain and protect these facilities.