Accra Stadium North Stand to be ready by March 21

Construction work will begin on the 21st of this month on the cordoned off North Stand, the scene of the May 9, 2001 tragedy at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Stand which is popularly known as the "Ade Coker Stand" and used to house vociferous fans, has been "a no go area" since that ''Black Wednesday".

Speaking to the GNA Sports, Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC), said work on the project could be completed in three months time to make way for the Champion of Champions super match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak.

He, however, said the contract has not been awarded to any contractor yet and that they were waiting for the Regional Tender Board to award the contract to competent contractors for work to commence.

Asked about the project estimate, Dr Owusu-Ansah said they were waiting for the contractors submit their estimates. He said Akuffo and Associates, an architectural Firm in Accra has come out with a design for the project and he was optimistic that there was not going to be any future re-occurrence of the tragedy.

Dr Owusu-Ansah said, for instance, that all spaces beside all the six stairways would be sealed to broadened the stairways to make easy movement.

On the Commission of Enquiry's recommendation for a monument to be erected in remembrance of the fallen victims, he said the Parks and Gardens have already started work on the site where the monument would be erected.

The monument, which would be in bronze would be erected in front of the Stadium Clinic. The designs have been given to the Arts Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science of Technology (KNUST) and the Art Department of Winneba. One of the designs would be chosen.