CAPE COAST TO GET NEW STADIUM (BACK PAGE)

Story: Joe Okyere & Nehemia Owusu Achiaw, Cape Coast

The long-cherished dream of the government to build a modern stadium for the people of Cape Coast was brought closer to its realisation when President J.A. Kufuor cut the sod for work to begin on a new stadium in Cape Coast yesterday.
The project, estimated at $25 million, is being financed by the Government of Ghana and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
When completed the stadium would seat about 20,000 spectators and would be equipped with facilities for boxing, table tennis, swimming and athletics.
Being executed by Pol-Mot, a construction firm from Poland, the project is in fulfilment of government decision to build sports stadia in all the regional capitals.
It is also in fulfilment of a promise made by President Kufuor in September last year, to the people of Cape Coast to build a stadium for them.
At the ceremony, President Kufuor said Cape Coast had nurtured many great footballers in the past and he was therefore hopeful that the new stadium would serve as an avenue to unearth many more talents when completed.
Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, expressed deep appreciation to the President for fulfilling his promise to the people by cutting the sod for the construction of the new stadium.
He recalled that on September 1, 2007 the President promised to elevate Cape Coast to a metropolitan status and ensure the accreditation of the medical school for the University of Cape Coast.
He also promised to ensure the construction of a new stadium and a modern market.
He said the President had delivered on almost all his promises except the construction of a new market, which he had been informed that there were plans for its construction.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta, Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, expressed appreciation to the government for delivering on its promise.
The President also inaugurated a roundabout at Mankesim, which has monuments of Oburmankoma, Oson and Odapagyan, the three great leaders of the people of Mankessim and surrounding towns and villages in Fanteland.