New security system at Accra Stadium

Accra, Sept 13, GNA - A representative of Camtel, a UK-based company responsible for installing security control equipment at various stadia across the world is in the country to rehabilitate the 27 turnstiles at the Accra Sports Stadium to increase safety and revenue collection.

The company was contacted to improve the security system and revenue collections at the various stadia after the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster in 2001 when 127 soccer fans were killed. Subsequently, the company submitted its proposals for consideration and had since been in talks with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the works to kick-start.

Based on its track record as having done similar jobs for most English clubs including Arsenals' Anfield, Tottenham Hotspurs as well as the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, the Ministry entered into a gentleman's agreement for work to begin while talks continued. The company also did some work on ticketing for the just ended Athens Olympic Games and the Euro 2004 games in Portugal. Mr Alex Tait, Chief Executive Officer of the company told the GNA Sports in Accra that the amount involved has not been finalized because a myriad of factors would have to be taken into account, which include the number of turnstiles to be serviced and the labour force required. Chiefly among the proposals is the need to use local work force while the unserviceable turnstiles are to be replaced at 7,000 pounds each.

A software known as "Sentinel" is to be installed while the entire turnstile is to be networked to record the number of spectators who will entire the stadium at a given point and its correspondent revenue. The device is to check pilfering, promote the culture of advanced ticket sales and also give early emergency signals in case of any eventuality. Mr Tait told the GNA that the Kaneshie and Kumasi stadia would also be taken care of and perhaps the new stadia to host the African Cup of Nations in 2008, but added, that it will be contingent on how effective the Accra Stadium work was executed. When the GNA reporter visited the stadium on Thursday, work has just begun on one of the turnstile.