Tamale, March 26, GNA - The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Science and Sports on Monday expressed satisfaction on the progress of work on infrastructure development of the CAN 2008 projects in Tamale.
The Committee however, appealed to the Chinese contractors building the stadium to train local engineers to study their technology and to teach them the use of machines for the maintenance of the stadium after they hand over the projects.
Mr. Isaac Asiamah, Chairman of the Committee expressed these concerns on behalf of the members when he led an 11-Member delegation of the Committee to inspect the progress of work of the projects of the CAN 2008 in the Tamale Metropolis.
The members are on a tour of all the CAN 2008 venues in the country comprising Tamale, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Accra and would meet stakeholders to discuss the problems and come out with recommendations for the necessary action to be taken.
The Committee inspected the 21,000 seating capacity stadium and the hostel facilities at the campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
Mr. Asiamah said, "On the whole, I am impressed about the rate of work currently going on in Tamale. The most important structure is the stadium and if the Chinese live by their word, everything would be set for the tournament in 2008."
Mr. Abuga Pele, the Ranking Member of Education, Science and Sports advised the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of CAN 2008 to consider to tackling the sanitation problems facing the venues to attract visitors and sports loving fans.
He said good sanitation was one key component that can attract visitors and therefore urged town planners to make sanitation their major priority in line with the success of CAN 2008.
Mr. Pele also stressed on the need for implementation of the works on the Tamale water project to ensure that the visitors and inhabitants are not saddled with any shortages so as to successfully host the event. The contractors working on the hostel facilities complained to the Committee about the inadequate supply of cement for the projects and appealed to them to intervene to enable them have direct access to the product to facilitate their work.
They said frequent interruption of water and electricity to the site was also hampering the work adding that there was the need to ensure a continuous power supply to the area to ensure effective work. The contractors gave the assurance that they would finish the projects on schedule.
Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister expressed concern about the delay in commencing with the external works at the stadium and appealed to the Committee to make recommendations to the sector Ministry for it implementation.
He said Administration has arranged to get about 500 mobile toilet facilities in the Metropolis for use during and after the tournament. The Regional Minister said the Tamale West Hospital was also to be upgraded while mobile clinic facilities will be provided to cater for the sporting public during the event.
The members of the Committee advised the contractors against rushing to finish the projects by undertaking any shoddy work so that the country can be assured of up to date infrastructure facilities at the venues.
