NSC to relocate to Ministry and Azumah Nelson Sports Complex

Accra, Dec 8, GNA - The National Sports Council (NSC) and all its affiliate bodies currently using the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra are to relocate to the Ministry of Education and Sports and the hostel complex at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex at Kaneshie to facilitate refurbishment work at the stadium.

Mr Charles Aryeh, Acting Chief Executive of the NSC in an interview with the GNA Sports said they have written to the Ministry requesting that their critical staff comprising the Chief Executive, Chief Accountant, Chief Administrative officer and the accounts staff be accommodated there for obvious reasons.

He said the rest of the staff including the respective secretariats of the associations will be moved to the hostel complex of the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex to be housed temporary. Government recently ordered that the two national stadiums - the Ohene Djan and Baba Yara Sports Stadiums be closed down on December 31 to allow contractors to put them in order for the hosting of the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

Mr Aryeh said to reduce the pressure on the limited facilities that the NSC will fall on till September 2007, the tentative date for their return to the stadium, "NSC Staff who have accumulated leave will be asked to take their leave".

"We will leave a skeleton staff made up of mainly technical staff in line with a request made by the contractors - Micheletti and Company Limited, to assist them make their way easily around the stadium." He said during the works, the entire facility would be cordoned off and any member of the public who wants to visit the facility will have to seek approval from the contractors.

"We have as a result of this development written to all organisations who use the stadium including the associations, vendors and the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) to start parking." In a related development, the NSC Staff at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi will also vacate their present offices at the Kumasi Sports Stadium and relocate to a hostel facility very close to the facility.

This is the second time that the two stadiums will be closed down for rehabilitation work to host a major soccer tournament. The last time was in 1999 when the two facilities were closed down to put the place in shape for the 2000 African Cup of Nations, which was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.