Western Regional Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Takoradi Constituency in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis has cut the sod for the construction of an astro turf to boost sporting activities, especially soccer in the constituency.
The construction of the project fully funded by the GNPC Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has been awarded to the Waste 360 Company Limited and is scheduled to be completed in twelve (12) weeks.
The traditional football ground also known as “Kobby’s Park” has seen the rise of many football stars in the region like Augustine Arhinful, Abeiku Ainison, Steven Baidoo and aided the qualification of FIjai FC to a Division 1 League, and would be expected to be transformed from a sandy ground to an ultra-modern astro turf.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the landmark project which aims at restoring sport development in the Takoradi Constituency, Mr Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah, MP for the Takoradi Constituency expressed the hope that the youth will be enthusiastic about the project in order to harness their sporting talent.
He disclosed that the park was supposed to have been cited at New Takoradi and would have been completed but due to the challenges with the availability of land had to be repositioned hence the delay and called on the contractor to speed up work to complete it on schedule.
According to him, he has spent a lot of efforts and investment on the park in trying to give it a facelift to benefit all but wasn’t materialised following the mishandling of it by some unscrupulous persons in the community and neighbouring areas.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GNPC, Dr. K.K. Sarpong expressed the optimism that the astro turf project will facilitate the development of more football talents in the constituency and the metropolis as well as the country at large.
“The reconstruction of the ‘Kobby’s Park’ to an astro turf for the entire community will appreciably benefit and to help lift soccer among the youths and the school children around the area and develop sporting activities in the region again”, he opined.
He indicated that the project is in line with the Foundation’s vision to have decent modern multi-purpose sports facilities across the country for sports and talent development among the youths in the country.
According to him, the project should have been done last year but due to challenges of a proper location was delayed and called on the contractor to do well to complete on schedule.
Dr. Sarpong commended the Contractor about the engineering work in that it would help solve the perennial flooding around the area and called on him to deliver a good job before handing over and completing it as well before schedule.
The project according to him is expected to cost around $350,000 with strict adherence to value for money.
He disclosed that the GNPC Foundation focuses on economic empowerment where it has facilitated a number of programs in self-reliance and business development, and education through which it has given about 4,000 scholarships to the youths in the country while taking other infrastructural projects.
Mr Gershon Sogbe, CEO of Waste 360 in an interview with Spice News after the ceremony gave the features of the project and said it will be fitted with flood lights around it so that events can be hosted in the night with the installation of a substitution bench for teams and chairs for spectators.
He announced that the artificial grass turf is earmarked for renovation every ten years after the successful completion and has the standard football pitch size of 90×110 with a complete drainage system to contain the flood situation in the area.
Dr. Dominic Eduafo, Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation mentioned that his outfit has undertaken a number of astro turf projects for communities to improve on sport development bringing the number to seven (7) in the Western and Western North Regions.
Headteachers, students and members of the community who were present at the sod-cutting ceremony showed the excitement and sense of gratitude to the MP and the leadership of the GNPC Foundation who have released funds to ensure that the project comes to successful completion.
The ceremony was well attended by some party stalwarts of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency including the Assemblyman for the Essikafo-Ambantem No. 1 Electoral Area which houses the project.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
