CAF delegation inspects site for new stadium

Sekondi, August 29, GNA - The three-member Confederation of African Football (CAF) delegation currently in the country on Sunday inspected the proposed site for a new stadium complex at Takoradi to host some of the matches during the CAN 2008 tournament.

The visiting team are made up of General Seyi Mereneh, First Vice President of CAF and leader of the delegation, Mr. Jean Marie, Marketing Consultant of CAF and Mr. Sulemana Abuba, the Public Relations and Communications Manager of CAF.

Mr Osei Frimpong, Mr. Isaac Amoah and Mr. Rex Danquah members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) accompanied the delegation. The group paid courtesy calls on Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister and Nana Kobina Nketsia, V, Omanhene of Essikadu. Mr Aidoo informed the delegation that the Sekondi Gyandu Park, Takoradi Polytechnic Park and Essipong were the three sites proposed for the new stadium but that CAF engineers rejected the Gyandu and the Polytechnic Parks.

He said the engineers noted while the Gyandu Park was waterlogged, the Polytechnic Park was too small to seat a 30,000 capacity stadium. The Regional Minister said the CAF engineers however approved the Essipong site, which covers an area of 58.18 acres.

Mr Aidoo told the delegation that negotiations over the land with the chiefs and other parties had been completed and urged CAF not to delay in facilitating the early construction of the project.

Nana Nketsia appealed to the Chinese Company that would construct the stadium to employ local artisans during the construction instead of bringing down artisans from China.

Mr Abuba said that the team was satisfied with the Essipong site after its inspection and said the delegation would return in February 2006 to ascertain the level of preparedness by Ghana for the tournament. The delegation later visited the Busua Beach Resort to also inspect facilities there.