Sports Minister Briefs MPs On Hockey Tourney Today

The acting Sports Minister Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo is expected to address parliament today on the state of the new hockey stadium and whether Ghana is ready to host the rest of the continent in the 9th Hockey Africa Cup for Nations which starts next week.

Sequel to that, the Minister, his deputy, Nii Nortey Dua, and some members of the Local Organising Committee toured the facility yesterday to fully convince themselves that Ghana was, indeed, ready for the tourney.

Apparently amazed at the structure and the interior decor, the minister said the facility was worth investing in and ‘nobody could challenge the country’s readiness’ to host the July 10-18 competition.

The Acting Minister and his team were taken round the stadium by the Contract Manager of Michelitti, Stuart Ward, who explained the detail of work done and other information that the minister might need to address the legislature.

The contract is in two parts — the physical structure which was undertaken by Michelitti, and the water-based pitch, which is being handled by Belgium-based grass experts, Edel Grass, and Ghanaian civil engineers, Klogg Ghana Limited.

The stadium or the physical structure is 100 per cent complete, but the pitch, which was delayed by the June rains, will be ready by Saturday.

The CEO of the LOC, Magnus Rex Danquah, seized the opportunity to make various suggestions to the contractors to prevent hitches during the week-long competition.

The magnificent 1,200-seating capacity stadium with a hostel also has a three-floor VIP structure for the VVIP, offices for International Hockey Federation (FIH)/National Sports Council (NSC), media conference room, changing rooms for players and technical offices, among others.

Also present at the tour were the Chairman of the Ghana Hockey Association, Oko Nikoi Dzani, Deputy CEO of the LOC, Bernard Monnah, Frank Awaku and Kwame Essah of the LOC.

The stadium will be inaugurated by President J.E.A. Mills on Monday.