Form quasi company to manage new stadiums - Chief urges government

Essienimpong, (Ash), Feb. 20, GNA - A traditional ruler in the Ashanti Region has called on the government to form a quasi-government company to manage the four new stadiums built to host the just ended CAN 2008 tournament.

Nana Kwaku Bio, Chief of Essienimpong in the Ejisu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region who made the appeal, said the management of the stadiums should not be given to private operators since that would not be in the interest of the people and the nation.

The Chief in an interview with the GNA Sports at Essienimpong, said the four new stadiums made up of the Baba Yara in Kumasi, Ohene Djan in Accra, Essipong near Sekondi and Tamale, should be jealously protected for posterity's sake.

Nana Bio said that while it would not be prudent for both the National Sports Council and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to manage the stadiums, a quasi-government company in the roots of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, would be an ideal type to manage the facilities, which are currently seen as national heritage. He said when the company was formed with its specific mandate spelt out to the management, it would go a long way to fetch in the needed revenue for the state while at the same time properly maintaining them for posterity.

Nana Bio said the management should be made to be accountable to either the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports or the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, adding that such a measure would ensure strict supervision. The traditional ruler appealed to the government not to yield to pressure from selfish private entrepreneurs to deprive the people of their investments and ownership of the facilities.