Zongo Minister breaks ground for construction of astroturf at Madina

The Ministry of Inner-City and Zongo Development has break ground for the construction an artificial football park at Madina in the Greater Accra Region to help groom upcoming sports enthusiasts in the La-Nkwantang Municipality.

According the contractor working on the project; Wembley Sports Construction Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian company the project will be completed in three month time.

The groundbreaking exercise kick starts the process for the much touted one constituency one astroturf by Wembley Sports Complex, the company that manages the artificial turf after completion in collaboration with the sitting Members of Parliament (MPs).

The construction of the Madina astroturf followed the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the

Walewale astroturf in the Northern Region last Tuesday January 16, 2018 by the minister.

The Madina ceremony was attended by the National Chief Imam Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, Madina Zongo Chief Baba Seidu, Chief of La-Nkwantang Nii Quartey Dzor , the Municipal Chief Executive(MCE) Jenifer Dede Afadgazi as well her Heads of Department (HOD) of the Assembly and the Constituency Chairman Michael Mckenzie among others.

Speaking at the colourful ground breaking ceremony, the Minister Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface said the development of inner-city and zongo communities is a key concern to the New Patriotic Party’s government led by the president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his able Vice president Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.

‘Historically, politics, internal fighting as a result of ethnic and chieftaincy related issues; low investment in economic stimulation activities, low level of education , absence of the right to social amenities , abuse of the right of certain category of persons as a result of the wrongful application and interpretation of cultural practices and religion have led to both voluntary and forced migration of people in the other parts of the regions to move in search of greener pastures in other regions’ he explained.

It is in view of this the NPP government set the ministry as one of its flagship initiative to reverse this trend of people traveling to the other regions for greener pastures he said.

According to him, the ministry was set up to outline projects in four thematic areas namely infrastructural enhancement and sanitation, economic empowerment and social development, security and crime control as whereas cultural heritage preservation and promotion.

He said for the ministry to achieve its mandate under the four thematic areas, it will be coordinating and collaborating with Ministries, Departments and Agencies and development partners.

The construction of the artificial turf is part of ‘our Infrastructure enhancement and social development program.

This project when completed will serve as a rally point for all in the Madina community and environs.

It is our hope that, the project if properly managed will help develop the necessary sports talents and foster unity amongst the different ethnic groups living in and around the area and also improve upon the economy of the area’ he stressed.

He revealed the project is being executed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports adding that more of these facilities will be built across the zongo areas of the country this year to help develop talents among the teeming unemployed youth.

Giving a bit of history, he said when one casts his or her mind back on the history of National Sports teams of the country; the zongo and the people of Northern descent have played a pivotal role not only in the make –up, but in its phenomenal success.

‘We cannot discuss the success of Ghana football without the mention of the likes of Baba Yara, Mohammed Polo, Abedi Pele and the entire Ayew family, Mohammed Gargo, Abdul Razak, Mahama Acquah, Anas Seidu, Ibrahim Sunday, Malik Jabir, Dogo Moro,Kluste among others from Zongos.