E/R!! Sports Minister Cuts Sod for Redevelopment of Famous Nkawkaw Sports Stadium

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah has cut sod for construction works to begin on the redevelopment of the famous Nkawkaw sports stadium on Friday.

The long awaited ground breaking ceremony was attended by high government officials, Nananom, the clergy, Islamic leaders, students, sports practitioners and the general public.

In his welcome address, the Municipal Chief Executive for Nkawkaw, Lawyer Yaw Owusu Addo, who could not hide his joy of seeing such an important ceremony come to fruition revealed that, Okwahu United football club is an heritage for Okwahuman and therefore the construction of the stadium facility was long overdue.

According to the MCE, Okwauhuman used to have many great soccer teams such as, Okwahu super Obuormma FC, Okwahu Jupiters FC, Okwahu Stores FC, Young Africans FC just to mention a few until sometime around 1975, when Colonel Simpe Asante, one of the state secretaries to the then Head of State, Colonel I K Acheampong led the charge for the construction of the Nkawkaw sports stadium until as it today. He also noted that, the stadium has produced hundreds of professional footballers including Opele Aboagye, Agyeman Duah Thomas Duah, Alhaji Bello, Nii Ayi Welbeck, Stanford Owusu, Kwame Ayew, Owusu Quansah and the current coach of the Ghana Black Stars, Charles K. Akonor and other renowned coaches.

“Once upon a time I travel to Germany and upon my arrival at the airport, my travel documents were rapidly facilitated for me to continue my responsibilities because of the love and respect every German citizen accords to former Ghanaian striker, Anthony Yeboah. That is howfar Okwahu United and Okwahuman has trained and produced world class footballers to the glory of Ghana, therefore I always say that Okwahuman rather deserves a world class sports stadium but thanks to H.E. President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo and his cabinet for discussing and agreeing to build this historic facility for us today”. He said.

Eastern Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw, Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfour also on his part thanked the President and his leadership for finally deciding to build the new facility at last. He further indicated that, one thing that boarders him most on the issue is the fact that, some persons have encroached portions of the stadium lands for other development and pleaded with the authorities to help halt that attitude.

The Regional Minister however hastened to add that, the management of Okwahu United must be tabled properly for discussion in order to carefully put together a competent board of governors to manage the team.

“I will at this point plead with contractors to use the right materials for their work and also involve the youth of the communities in the construction process “. He said.

The CEO of the Middle Belt Development Authority, Hon. Joe Danquah in his address indicated that, his outfit has constructed ten standard AstroTurf pitches in the Eastern Region at the cost of Gh¢ 22.1million.

The CEO further stated that aside the redevelopment of the Nkawkaw sports stadium which will cost Gh¢14 million and Gh¢ 13 million for the first and second phases of the project, his outfit has also undertaken several other projects such as construction of a 3 unit classroom block at Kwadjo Nkansah, 3unit classroom block at Kontompa, construction of 3unit classroom block at Ekawso, provision of 2000 dual desks, construction of ICT centre at Nkawkaw Islamic school and several other renovation projects throughout the Nkawkaw municipality, adding that, funding for all the projects are sourced from the President’s Gh¢ 1 million dollars per constituency fund.

Mr. Joe Danquah however appealed to all gathered to vote 4more years for the NPP to ensure continuity of the project.

The Sports Minister, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah, in his address stated that, the president, H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo and the NPP came to fix the broken, complete the stalled and build new ones in addition.

According to him, the stadium will now become a stadium complex and when completed will have a 10,000 capacity status to play all international matches. He said the stadium will have a FIFA standard pitch, 8 lanes professional running tracts, gymnasium, tennis courts, restaurants and a befitting hostel to accommodate every team.

“Let me say that, after completion of this facility, the Nkawkaw stadium will be known as the stadium with the most nicest view in Ghana thereby being the camping base for the Ghana Black Stars. All this is being done because of the will of the president and so I will urge us all to vote 4more years for NPP to complete the project”. He said.

Barima Kwame Asante Betiani, the Okwahu Atibiehene and Djaasehene, who represented the Okwahuhene, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, thanked government for the fulfilment of such a facility because the people of Okwahu considers the stadium as a very important heritage.

Barima Asante Betiani finally sent a word of caution to everyone who has encroached any part of the stadium land for any purpose to immediately remove or pull down any structure voluntarily before he leads Atibieman to demolish them.