Repair works of Osu Stand, part of entire stadium rehabilitation - Minister

Accra, June 8, GNA - Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Education and Sports, on Wednesday said the entire Ohene Djan Stadium has been earmarked to be renovated as part of the general programme of constructing infrastructure to host the Cup of African Nations (CAN) 2008. He said the Ministry had intended to renovate the Osu Stand of the Stadium, however, with the on-going preparations towards hosting the games; the entire stadium had been slated for renovation.

The Minister was responding to a question in Parliament asked by Mr Joseph Tsatsu Agbenu, NDC-Afram Plains North as to when the Ministry would start renovation work on the Osu Stand of the Ohene Djan Stadium. Mr Osafo-Maafo said the Osu Stand of the Ohene Djan Stadium was closed down following a recommendation made by the Architectural and Engineering Services Company Limited (AESL) after the May 9 Disaster.

"The recommendation was made to the effect that that portion of the stadium had become structurally defective and, therefore, poses a serious threat to human life."

On the provision of tartan tracks on the proposed two new stadiums to be constructed, Mr Osafo-Maafo said a multi-purpose Olympic Stadium, which would provide facilities including tartan tracks for the organisation of various forms of sports would also be constructed. He said it was the objective of the Ministry to provide modern infrastructure for the development and promotion of sports in the country and most of these could be realised through the current preparation the country was making to construct world-class infrastructure and other facilities for the hosting of CAN 2008.