Scrap dealer removes rings /metals from stadium

Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - A scrap dealer, Mr. Bashiru Mohammed on Wednesday astounded the workers of the National Sports Council (NSC) when he entered the premises of the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium under police escort and a court bailiff remove 10 boxing rings under construction and some metals to an unknown destination.

Mohammed was apparently carrying out an Accra High Court Order in his favour issued by Justice Isaac Lartey Young 'to remove his rings=94 from the stadium for completion.

The scrap dealer engaged the services of 12 labourers who loaded the items into three large tipper trucks with registration numbers GE 5589 V, GR 6851 X and GT 3670 H under the probing eyes the NSC staff and some passersby.

the stadium due to his inability to meet the deadline for the construction of the rings, meant for distribution to the regions. The Council then appointed another artisan to mould the rings which Bashiru had abandoned after agreeing terms with the Council to construct the 10 rings for 70 million cedis.

Though Bashiru also claimed the NSC was indebted to him to the tune of 365 million cedis, for removing metal fittings at the stadium, his position was vehemently challenged by the Council's staff. Mr Charles Henry Aryeh, Deputy Chief Executive of the NSC who was the capo of the Council when Mohammed was contracted to undertake some demolition work at the facility, said the scrap dealer offered to undertake the job for free so that he would be considered as 93the first option to buy the metals at the prevailing price.=94 He said he was surprised that Mohammed was claiming 365 million cedis for doing the work after he had failed to pay for the large quantity of metals and broken plastic chairs he had removed from the stadium.

Mr Aryeh said he was disappointed by the court's order because it was silent on where the items should be sent to, while it offered no compelling deadline for their return and quizzed, 93what happens if anything happens to him? How can we trace the rings which are state property?

In his comments, Prince Ernest Oduro-Mensah, Chief Executive of the NSC also faulted the court's verdict and intimated that the order did not give Mohammed any definite date to complete the work. He said the rings were meant to reignite interest in boxing in the regions so as to chart another glorious era for the sport to give meaning to the resurrection of Sports in Ghana.

The CEO said he would liaise with the Attorney General's Department for action to be taken to controvert the High Court Order in the national interest and in the pursuit of justice.