El-Wak Stadium to be upgraded to 50,000-capacity

Accra, Oct. 26, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has announced that the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra will soon be upgraded to a 50,000 all-seater capacity as part of efforts towards developing sports in the country.

The upgrading of the Ghana Armed Forces-owned sports facility is one of many penciled by Government in the development of sports infrastructure across the country.

President Mills made this remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Joseph Henry Smith, Minister of Defence during the official opening of the 11th Security Sports Services Association (SESSA) Games, on Wednesday at the El-Wak sports stadium. He said that Government has lined up a long-term objective which lays emphasis in the development of infrastructure at the regional and district levels.

"With regard to Sports Infrastructure, our long-term objective remains that every regional capital should have a 50,000-seat capacity stadium and every District capital should have a 7,000-seat capacity stadium." It is based on this objective that the El-Wak Stadium, the cradle of the biennial SESSA Games will be accorded a facelift to a 50,000-seat capacity.

The establishment of standard stadia in at least every regional capital is expected to ease pressure on the existing four national stadiums in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi and Tamale as well as placing the nation in a good stead to host future international sports events amongst which include the 2015 All Africa Games.

President Mills mentioned school sports, establishment of sports academies and juvenile sports as some strategic areas Government is considering in its quest to achieve their objectives in sports development. He also said that his outfit is developing a comprehensive Sports Policy and the related legislation to regulate and guide sports development in the country. President Mills reiterated Government's determination to encourage and support all sporting disciplines to blossom throughout the country. 26 Oct. 09