El Wak to be ready for second round matches

Accra, Oct 29, GNA - After shuttling from one venue to the other to honur their home matches away from home, premier clubs in Accra will heave a sigh of relief when the second round of matches begins early next year.

The good news is sequel to the effort of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to ensure renovation work on the military facility is completed ahead of schedule to ease venue problems for clubs in Accra. Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of the sector in charge of Sports said the ministry was concerned about the plight of clubs which had to commute long distances to play their home matches and it was therefore imperative to double the operational gear of the renovation work.

He said the project on completion would also address the issue of running tracks, as high-grade tartan tracks would also be available for track and field athletes, who had to travel to Togo lately to use such a facility.

The Deputy Minister said his Ministry was undertaking a national infrastructural development project from its budgetary allocation, which had seen the fencing of over 60 parks and playing fields across the country.

He said the move was to secure the parks and fields for the various communities because recreational facilities were being encroached upon. Mr Amoah said playing fields and parks were necessary ingredients for the development of sports and assured that the Ministry would not relent in its effort in ensuring that the youth had access to decent playing fields to nurture their talents and skills. Some of the facilities on which work had been completed include, Kawokudi Park in Accra, Suhum Park in the Eastern Region, Damongo Community Park in the Northern Region, Tumu and Lawra Parks in the Upper West Region and Chiraa and Dormaa Ahenkro Parks in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Mr Amoah said a multi purpose court would soon be completed in each region, adding that they would be sited in schools as funding for the courts was sought from the GET Fund.

He said in order to intensify and sus tain the infrastructural development project, the Ministry was persuading District Assemblies to join in the crusade by allotting a fraction of their budget towards it, as playing fields have the propensity to take the youth away from the streets and away from crime.

The Deputy Minister said he hoped the budget would have the capacity to enable the Ministry to address many more requirements of the people in terms of facilities and equipment.