Sub-standard tourist facilities in Kumasi to be closed down

Kumasi, June 7, GNA - The Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) of the CAN 2008 tournament has advised managers of tourist facilities in the Metropolis to strive to upgrade their facilities to meet international standards towards the impending tournament in Ghana next year.

The Committee said the upgrading of such facilities was crucial to ensuring the nation's image was ensured when the tournament starts, and warned that it would in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) close down sub-standard tourist facilities if they are not given a face-lift.

Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Chairman of the Committee, announced this at a press conference organized to brief newsmen on measures being instituted by the Committee to ensure that Kumasi Metropolis became one of the successful hosting venues.

He said as part of moves to ensure professionalism in the operation of tourist facilities, the GTB had been mandated to organize training workshops for managers of hotels, restaurants, night clubs and drinking spots to build their capacity and develop their knowledge-base ahead of the tournament.
On the rehabilitation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Prof Adarkwa said the Committee was satisfied with the progress of work so far done by the contractors, Messrs Consar Construction Limited. He said when completed, the stadium would have a seating capacity for about 40,000 spectators, adding that a total of four floodlights with 75 bulbs fixed on each would be installed since most of the matches would be honoured in the evenings.
The Chairman further said that the stadium would have a general media centre with a broad-band Internet access to facilitate the work of media personnel covering the event. He stated that there were also plans by the KVOC to sell advance tickets for the tournament so as to avoid inconveniences when the tournament starts.
Prof Adarkwa said rehabilitation works have also begun earnestly on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prempeh College, Opoku Ware School and Wesley College Parks to put the training pitches into proper shape before the commencement of the tournament. He pointed out that the playing fields of those pitches would be upgraded to CAF standards whilst the changing rooms would also see a facelift when the project is finally completed.
On accreditation, the Chairman said accreditation for the coverage of the tournament would be given to all local media houses which intend to cover the tournament and therefore urged the media to contact the Committee as soon as possible to be briefed on the modalities for getting their accreditation. He gave the assurance that the Committee would not discriminate against any media house in the issuance of the accreditation and therefore called on the media to endeavour to create the necessary awareness as the tournament draws near to get most sports lovers interested in the event. 07 June 07

Kumasi, June 7, GNA - The Kumasi Venue Organising Committee (KVOC) of the CAN 2008 tournament has advised managers of tourist facilities in the Metropolis to strive to upgrade their facilities to meet international standards towards the impending tournament in Ghana next year.

The Committee said the upgrading of such facilities was crucial to ensuring the nation's image was ensured when the tournament starts, and warned that it would in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) close down sub-standard tourist facilities if they are not given a face-lift.

Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Chairman of the Committee, announced this at a press conference organized to brief newsmen on measures being instituted by the Committee to ensure that Kumasi Metropolis became one of the successful hosting venues.

He said as part of moves to ensure professionalism in the operation of tourist facilities, the GTB had been mandated to organize training workshops for managers of hotels, restaurants, night clubs and drinking spots to build their capacity and develop their knowledge-base ahead of the tournament.
On the rehabilitation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Prof Adarkwa said the Committee was satisfied with the progress of work so far done by the contractors, Messrs Consar Construction Limited. He said when completed, the stadium would have a seating capacity for about 40,000 spectators, adding that a total of four floodlights with 75 bulbs fixed on each would be installed since most of the matches would be honoured in the evenings.
The Chairman further said that the stadium would have a general media centre with a broad-band Internet access to facilitate the work of media personnel covering the event. He stated that there were also plans by the KVOC to sell advance tickets for the tournament so as to avoid inconveniences when the tournament starts.
Prof Adarkwa said rehabilitation works have also begun earnestly on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prempeh College, Opoku Ware School and Wesley College Parks to put the training pitches into proper shape before the commencement of the tournament. He pointed out that the playing fields of those pitches would be upgraded to CAF standards whilst the changing rooms would also see a facelift when the project is finally completed.
On accreditation, the Chairman said accreditation for the coverage of the tournament would be given to all local media houses which intend to cover the tournament and therefore urged the media to contact the Committee as soon as possible to be briefed on the modalities for getting their accreditation. He gave the assurance that the Committee would not discriminate against any media house in the issuance of the accreditation and therefore called on the media to endeavour to create the necessary awareness as the tournament draws near to get most sports lovers interested in the event. 07 June 07