Let's preserve the CAN 2008 facilities - Amoah

Tamale, July 26, GNA - Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports on Thursday advised the sporting public in the Northern Region to come together and protect the newly built stadium and other facilities of the CAN 2008 to derive maximum benefits. He said, "It is very important to emphasize that the whole of the Northern Region and indeed the other neighbouring regions must protect this great legacy, which had been provided to boost the personal, economic and social community development of the area."

Mr. Amoah gave the advice during a media interaction in Tamale after inspecting the 21,700 - seater capacity stadium for CAN 2008 tournament and the hostel facilities at the campuses of the Tamale Polytechnic and University for Development Studies (UDS).

The Deputy Minister also inspected the training pitches, changing rooms, connection of utilities such as telecommunication system, electricity and water supply to the various places.

Mr. Amoah said next year's event would be a test case for Ghana to showcase its supremacy in soccer to the rest of the continent by winning the Cup as a prelude to winning the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. He said beyond the benefits of CAN 2008, the Northern Region stood the chance of gaining from the provision of sporting facilities and active participation in sports and stressed the importance of preserving the facilities.

Mr. Amoah said there was the need to initiate discussions on the essence of the sports facilities for socio-economic development of the country in general and the Northern Region in particular and to also cultivate the habit of preservation and maintenance after the tournament.

He said the provision of stadiums for next year's African Cup of Nations particularly the Tamale and the Sekondi venues were important legacies of the country, which needed to be preserved well to boost the socio-economic development of the areas.

The Deputy Minister, however, said the greatest challenge confronting the total completion of the projects were the external works, car parks, drainage system and the training pitches, evacuation and entrance squares, as well as sewerage disposal. He expressed the hope that those components would be completed on time before the end of September this year.

Mr Amaoh said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning had authorized the release for funds for the payment of advance mobilisation for the construction of the external works, while advance mobilisation had already been paid for the start of works on the training pitches.

He expressed satisfaction on the rate of work on the hostel facilities and the stadium in Tamale, which had already been completed and waiting commissioning in September.

Mr. Amoah said government believes that the provision of the Sports Stadium and other facilities like multi-purpose courts and sports halls across the Region would help to unearth and produce excellent sports men and women from the northern sector of the country.

He expressed the hope that the Northern Region, which abounds in football talents would contribute meaningfully towards reviving and maintaining the country's past successes as a strong nation in soccer and other sporting disciplines. 26 July 07