Essipong Stadium to be renovated, Phase I costed at GHC18 million
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has disclosed that a contract has been awarded for the renovation of the Essipong Stadium.This will be the first time the facility, since it’s commissioning in 2008 that such major renovation works will be taken on it. The stadium located in Essipong, is one of the Western Region’s monumental infrastructure. However due to the non-maintenance culture endemic in Ghana, the facility was left to virtually a total ‘decay’.
Roofing systems have been torn, exposing the steel frames to corrosion. Washrooms, office spaces, hostels have all suffered some magnitude of deterioration.
A request was thence forwarded by the Western Region Sports Committee, to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to have the stadium renovated, so as to support the development of sports in the region and for the country.
Minister for Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah disclosed in an media briefing that the renovation of the stadium will carried out in two phases. The initial phase which is costed at GHC17,969,447.10, will cover the replacement of existing defective roofing sheets, sandblasting corroded roofing steels and application of heavy duty coating system to guard against further deterioration of the metal structure from the mid-west to the south stand.
It will also include the replacement of damaged roof structural steel frame and bolts, water proof treatment of leaking areas, general renovation of offices, plumbing and air-conditioning repairing works, renovation of all sanitary appliances, lifts, and fire fighting systems.
All these works are expected to be completed in a twelve month schedule, and is being executed by CISDAN Limited.
Phase II of the project, Hon. Asiamah added will cover the renovation of the spectators seats, electrical installations, completion of hotel/hostel facilities and other works.
“As a matter of need”, the Minister intimated; “a maintenance manual will be provided such that management of the facility sticks strictly to it”
“There’s going to be strict adherence to maintenance culture here, and that for me is very critical”, he noted.
He also mentioned that the National Sports Authority have been directed to liaise with the Regional Coordinating Council to manage the facility when completed, so they could self-finance future renovations or upgrading.
“I have directed the Director General of the National Sports Authority to liaise with the regional administration to sure that becomes a reality…so we have a professional management of the place”, Hon. Asiamah stressed.
The Board Chairman of the NSA, Mr. Kwadwo Baah Agyeman, who was present nodded, in affirmative to the Minister’s directive. He noted they are every ready to collaborate with the respective agencies to enhance the development of sports in the region and the country.
Western Region Minister, (Dr.) Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah was very appreciative with the intervention, adding the stadium is an instrumental element in the development of sports champions for the country.
He argued that “without Western Region, Ghana wouldn’t have won the two African Cup of Nations, and therefore the renovation of this stadium”
“This is big news for us, and we know that in the next eleven months of the project, we will be able to also get the approval to do the second phase concurrently, so that Western Region will get the full benefit of this huge edifice that we have”, he added.
Present during the inspection visit were; Deputy Western Regional Minister, Hon. Gifty Eugenia Kusi; Chairman of the Western Region Sports Committee, Wilson Arthur; Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey and other delegates of the Sports Ministry.
