Minister wants stadium projects to be completed ahead of schedule

Kumasi, Sept 5, GNA - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports has called on contractors working on the various sports facilities for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2008 to endeavour to complete the projects on schedule.

He said this would enable stakeholders to fully assess the facilities for the needed updates to be made for the smooth take off of the competition early next year.

Professor Fobih said this when briefing newsmen after inspecting the facilities under construction in Kumasi on Tuesday towards the nation's preparation for the CAN 2008 soccer fiesta.

The projects he inspected included the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, the City Hotel and training pitches at Opoku Ware School, Prempeh College, Wesley College and Paa Joe Stadium at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Prof Fobih expressed satisfaction about the progress made so far by the contractors and but said there was the need for them to increase pace of work and proper supervision to provide quality facilities worthy of presentation to the sporting public.

The Minister stressed that hosting of the competition was a national sporting affair that would also boost tourism and not for only sports and that it therefore behoves on the contractors and all stakeholders to ensure that the image of the nation was held in high esteem with a proper organisation. Prof Fobih was accompanied by Mr Osei-Assibey Antwi, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister as well as other members of the Local Organizing Committee of CAN 2008 and Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, the Chief Operating Officer of the LOC. 05 Sept. 07