Repair Swedru Stadium - Chiefs

The Acting President of the Agona Traditional Council, Nana Kobina Botwe II, and Nana Ampim Darko V, National Chairman of Agona Fankobaa Association have called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports to help rehabilitate the Agona Swedru Sports Stadium to save it from total collapse.

Nana Kobina Botwe II, who is also the Adontehene and Nana Ampim Darko V also Kyidomhene of the area said the stadium which ranked third in the country in the early 70s has seen no renovation since it was constructed some 60 years ago .

They made the call when a delegation of the Agona Traditional Council visited the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Edward Osei Kwaku in Accra over the weekend.

They noted that, the ceiling of most of the stands is leaking and deteriorating fast with some of the walls in deplorable state. “It was about some five years ago when the Agona District Assembly came to its rescue to rebuild the southern end of the wall when it collapsed after a heavy downpour”, they said.

They, however, noted that the stadium is not only used for sporting activities but used to host other national activities such as “Farmers Day” and serves a Durbar grounds for heads of state.

Nana Ampim Darko promised the support of his people with communal labour to support any assistance by the ministry and government in the rehabilitation of the stadium.

The minister, who received the delegation urged the chiefs to co-operate and collaborate with MPs, district assemblies and traditional councils to estimate the cost of the rehabilitation works on the stadium for consideration.

He said the ministry is prepared to give the little assistance it can irrespective of party affiliations.

The minister said the ministry's budget is not enough and it has to depend on sponsors to augment their budget.