Ohene Djan Stadium will last "forever"- Micheletti

Accra, July 10, GNA - Jimmy Castanga, Technical Director of Micheletti and Co, the contractors refurbishing the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra has given the assurance that the arena will last "forever" if the right culture of maintenance is undertaken.

The Technical Director's assurance is to erase an apparent anxiety from the public that the metal frame being used to roof the stadium will rust due to its proximity to the sea (Atlantic ocean).

Castanga told the GNA Sports on Monday that "We have the similar sea's in the Americas, Europe and in Asia, but why do those stadia and other edifice last even though they are also exposed to the same conditions?, he asked.

"It's maintenance. That is all it takes to keep structures in good shape forever. And I'm still looking for that one person who believes we cannot do the same here".

The metal frame of the old flood lights at the stadium will be maintained to house the ultra-modern facility due to its quality - something Castanga attributes to the level of maintenance it might have received in the past.

Castanga said, "The consultants we brought from France and Italy both did not see why the frames have to be changed because of their quality, even though they have been exposed to the sea for the several years of their existence".

He told the GNA Sports it has been proven that the flood light support can at least last for the next ten years and was buoyant about how far the roofing will travel with the right approach. The renovation has reached an advanced stage with the roofing as the only major work left.

Anti-vandal facilities, rest rooms for spectators and an ultra-modern scoreboard are among the several services the modernized stadium will enjoy.

The contractors are expected to hand over the 40,000 capacity arena to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on October 31. The Ohene Djan stadium is one of the four venues for the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations, Ghana 2008 scheduled for January. The Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the three-week soccer fiesta.