Mills Tours Site Olympic Complex

Accra, (Greater Accra Region) 15 Oct. The Vice-president Professor John Atta Mills today inspected a 772-acre land at Borteyman, off the Accra/Tema motorway, near Nungua farms, for the contruction of a national olympic size stadium complex. The proposed 80,000 to 100,000 seater capacity stadium, comprising a main pitch for footbaall and tertan track together with other requisite provisions for track and field athletics, is part of a new policy initiative announced by President J. J. Rawlings in his sessional address to Parliament in January. The Vice-President's visit was therefore to mark the first public identification and entry into the area. Professor Mills said " in view of the size and complexity of the project, government will require financing and technical assistance under terms and conditions to be mutually agreed". As a result, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has addressed a preliminary letter of intent to seven firms, (six based in Europe/Asia and one in Africa) which have shown interest in the project. Each of them will be invited to formally submit their preliminary offer of a financing and technical package for consideration. The Vice-Ppresident said work is proceeding on the other major components of government's new policy initiative on the delivery of infrastructure for sports. They include, the rehabilitation of the Accra Sports Stadium whose first phase is expetected to be completed before Ghana hosts the 1999 edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under-20 youth football tournamnet. The rest are the upgrading, rehabilitation and construction of stadiums for the other league centres and the regional capitals, and the provision of improved community playing fields throughout the country. Accompanying the Vice-President were the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr E. T. Mensah, Colonel George Brock, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council, Numbo Bokete Larweh Gborbu (Wolomo of Nungua Traditional area) and Nii Botirabi Obroni, Acting Chief of the Nungua. This is about the third site the government is aquiring for the proposed satdium. The first two were at Aboso Okine and Nii Boyeman.

and Emmanuel Osei Kofi, a driver who is a member of the Ghana branch of the church. The accused pleaded not guilty to treason through preparing and seeking the services and arms from soldiers on guard duty at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to topple the government. The accused are being tried by a three-member panel, Mr. Justice Richard Apaloo (presiding), Mr. Justice P. K. Owusu-Sekyere and Ms Justice Ivy Ashong. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. J.C. Amonoo- Monney, told the court that in 1994, the accused persons (with the exception of Osei), together with one Major Oppong Addai (rtd), conceived and discussed in London, a plan to topple the government. The prosecutor said in furtherance of their plan, they came to Ghana and contacted some people in Lome, Abidjan, and Tema and went back. On August two, 1994, Appiah came back to Ghana and was assigned the duty of acquiring accommodation for the conspirators at Santa Maria, an area in Accra, at a rent of 5,000 pounds for six months. The prosecution said by the end of August, the other accused arrived and sought the assistance of Osei and some soldiers on guard duty at GBC for a fee. The DPP said the accused persons at several meetings held at different places with Major Addai and one Captain James Owoo (rtd), asked the soldiers to recruit more of their colleagues and procure grenades and ''mowags'' for the operation, which was scheduled for Wednesday, August 31, 1994. Mr. Amonoo-Monney told the court that the accused bought mobile phones and gave one to the soldiers in order to facilitate communication. They promised to give each of them three million cedis plus a four-wheel drive Pajero, if the operation was successful. The prosecutor said the soldiers informed the authorities, who advised them to feign interest, while surveillance was kept on the accused. The DPP said at one of their meetings, the soldiers showed six grenades to the accused and told them that they would be given to them in the presence of Major Addai and Capt. Owoo, who were not present at that meeting. Mr. Amonoo-Monney said the soldiers told the accused that the operation should be postponed to September two, by which time the two army officers would be available to take custody of the grenades. The accused persons agreed, and on the night of September one, they were arrested. Major Addai and Capt. Owoo escaped.