Deputy Minister allays fears of athletes

Accra, Jan 5, GNA - Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports has allayed fears of athletes that the relocation of the running tracks at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to the El Wak Stadium in Accra will not perish the sport.

The Deputy Minister said on the contrary, the relocation would ensure additional tracks capable of promoting athletics to as higher level to enable the nation win more laurels.

Mr Amoah said this in reaction to allegations from the athletics quarters' that the removal of the running tracks is an attempt to kill the sport.

The complaints rode high on a similar move that was made to the handball, basketball and volleyball courts in 1978 and 2000 in preparations for the Nations Cup.

The Minister gave the assurance that the renovation would rather help develop athletics in the country and provide the desired improvement with the proposed eight lane modern tartan tracks pencilled for the El-Wak Stadium.

The tracks are expected to be ready within the next four to six months.

"In addition, modern tartan tracks will also be provided at the Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi-Takoradi stadia and this will serve as an avenue for unearthing more talents in the sport", the Minister added. Mr Amoah therefore called on followers of the sport to exercise restraint and to hope for better things ahead.

Recent reports of the relocation of the running tracts to the El- Wak sparked protests from certain quarters, arguing that the move is an attempt to kill athletics in the country.

This was based on the previous experience that saw the demise of the Handball, Volleyball and Basketball courts during similar renovation exercise carried out at the stadium in 1978 and 2000 for the hosting of the Nations Cup.