Mr. Alban S. K. Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament has commissioned an ultramodern Astroturf for the McCoy College of Education at Nadowli in the Nadowli-Kaleo District to help enhance sporting activities and education in the school.
The facility would also serve as a hosting ground for sports and social events for people and groups across the region and beyond.
The sports facility comprised an artificial football pitch, floods lights, VIP and spectator stands, a multi-purpose court and offices.
The over GHȻ10 million facility was an initiative of the Speaker of Parliament with support from the Ghana Gas Company Limited and executed by the Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited.
Addressing the students and staff of the college, members of the public and other stakeholders at a ceremony at the school campus to commission the facility, Mr Bagbin indicated that he had done similar projects in other constituencies in the country.
He stated that his position as the Speaker of Parliament had given him the leverage to mobilise resources to support the development of the people.
“So we are expecting that this effort (the sports facility) be enhanced, not just managed but enhanced”, Mr Bagbin said.
He stated that they were putting in place a management team comprising all stakeholders – the college students and management and community members to ensure the proper maintenance of the facility.
The Speaker of Parliament expressed hope that the facility would contribute to the development of the college since there would be a need for additional facilities including hotels for people and groups who might want to camp at the school to use the facility.
“We have to make sure that utilities like water and electricity are reliable and of good quality”, Mr. Bagbin explained.
Reverend Father Peter Paul Yelletuo, the Principal of the McCoy College of Education, recounted the potential benefit of the Astroturf to the development of the students and young people in general.
“This stadium is not just a structure of bricks and mortar, it represents hope, opportunity, and the future of our young people.
This stadium is more than just a sports facility.
It is a symbol of the deep commitment to the development of our youth, their educational experience”, he observed.
He thanked the Speaker of Parliament, Ghana Gas Company Limited, Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited and all stakeholders who played a role in ensuring the successful completion of the sports facility.
He also expressed appreciation to Mr. Bagbin, for his relentless efforts towards the development of the constituency in general and the college in particular.
Rev. Fr. Yelletuo mentioned some support of Mr Bagbin to the school to include the furnishing of two lecture halls with 200 tables and chairs, a donation of 400 plastic chairs with metal legs, two projectors, four swivel chairs, and a risograph machine among others.
Mr. Robert Tetteh Coleman, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wembley Sports Construction Company Ltd. expressed gratitude to Mr Bagbin for having confidence in his company and giving them the opportunity to execute the project.
He described the facility as one of the first class Astroturfs in West Africa and had a 15-year lifespan after which a change of the grasses and other things would be needed.
Mr. Coleman said they had put in place measures to ensure the longevity of the facility including establishing and training a 15-member management team within the Nadowli community to manage the facility.
Some Ghanaian football legends including Laryea Kingston; Stephen Appiah; Fatawu Dauda; Kwadwo Asamoah and John Paintsil also graced the occasion, which culminated in a match between the former Black Star players and a local team in Nadowli.
