Poor nature of pitch is due to mismanagement

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has admitted that the poor nature of the pitch at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, was due to mismanagement and non applications of directives regarding its use.

According to the Ministry, though participating teams were not supposed to use the pitch for any form of activity for at least three days before the opening game, this was not adhered to, hence the bad nature of the pitch during the Black Stars match. Miss Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Ministry, said at Press Conference on Wednesday that the mismanagement of the pitch was due to the mix up on the schedules by the Accra venue teams, including the Black Stars of Ghana.

"Due to the mix up in the schedules of the four teams in Accra, any of them could move to the Stadium to train and the security personnel could not turn them away."

This, she said, prevented officials of Green Grass Technology (GGT) - contractors working on the pitch, to embark on the necessary maintenance measures to keep the pitch is excellent playing shape for the championship.

Miss Ohene explained that the four teams had been given their schedules and were adhering to them by training at their allocated training pitches.

The Minister said efforts were being made to put the pitch in good shape before Ghana's game against Namibia on Thursday. She gave the assurance that the pitch would be in perfect condition before Sunday, January 27.

Miss Ohene's position was corroborated by Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports. Mr Amoah said the Ministry received numerous complaints from GGT concerning the use of the pitch and they had taken the necessary steps to control it.

He said the Ministry was in consultation with GGT to ensure that the pitch was put in the best of conditions for the remaining matches.

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has admitted that the poor nature of the pitch at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra, was due to mismanagement and non applications of directives regarding its use.

According to the Ministry, though participating teams were not supposed to use the pitch for any form of activity for at least three days before the opening game, this was not adhered to, hence the bad nature of the pitch during the Black Stars match. Miss Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State at the Ministry, said at Press Conference on Wednesday that the mismanagement of the pitch was due to the mix up on the schedules by the Accra venue teams, including the Black Stars of Ghana.

"Due to the mix up in the schedules of the four teams in Accra, any of them could move to the Stadium to train and the security personnel could not turn them away."

This, she said, prevented officials of Green Grass Technology (GGT) - contractors working on the pitch, to embark on the necessary maintenance measures to keep the pitch is excellent playing shape for the championship.

Miss Ohene explained that the four teams had been given their schedules and were adhering to them by training at their allocated training pitches.

The Minister said efforts were being made to put the pitch in good shape before Ghana's game against Namibia on Thursday. She gave the assurance that the pitch would be in perfect condition before Sunday, January 27.

Miss Ohene's position was corroborated by Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports. Mr Amoah said the Ministry received numerous complaints from GGT concerning the use of the pitch and they had taken the necessary steps to control it.

He said the Ministry was in consultation with GGT to ensure that the pitch was put in the best of conditions for the remaining matches.