It appears the cry for the people of the Upper East Region to give the Bolgatanga sports stadium a facelift is not going to be given any attention any time soon.
The Minister Designate for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif has revealed, that he has no knowledge of government plans to give the abandoned Bolgatanga stadium a facelift.
Bolgatanga Stadium has been one of the priorities for the people of the Upper East Region, no wonder it was part of the region agenda during the Upper East @50 celebration
On November 26, 2020, it was reported on Ghana New Agency “NDC to build ultramodern sports stadium in Bolgatanga”.
Mr John Dramani Mahama, the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, assured the chiefs and people of the Upper East Region that he will build an ultramodern sports stadium in Bolgatanga to promote sports.
He said the next NDC government would build regional sports stadia across every region without a stadium to promote sports and wellness.
Mr Mahama made the pledge on Wednesday at a community engagement with the chiefs and people of Talensi in the Upper East Region as part of his four-day campaign tour.
He noted that apart from the regional sports Stadiums, mini modern sports stadia would be built in all districts to harness the sporting potentials of the youth.
He said the sports potentials of the youth would be harnessed from the district to regional, national and international levels.
Mr. Mahama reiterated the need to harness the youth’s sporting potentials to create jobs for them.
However, one would ask, why are people of the Upper East denying themselves developmental opportunities especially when they had the opportunity to serve as ministers of state. In the Akufo-Addo first Administration, the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Mr. Kofi Adda had the opportunity to provide a first-class airport to the people of the Upper East Region. But unfortunately, that wasn’t achieved for the region till he says goodbye to the Aviation Ministry. That is one classic example, now let me come back to the stadia issue.
On January 08, 2015, a story published by then Citifmonline.com copied by Peacefmonline.com “Bolga Stadium To Be World Class Sports Minister” This was according to another son from the region who in control of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga has said work will soon commence on the Bolgatanga sports stadium to transform it into a world-class stadium.
This, according to the Minister will be achieved with the provision of standard infrastructure and facilities.
Mr. Ayariga revealed this on a working visit to the Bolga sports stadium and also the Bolgatanga Senior High School (SHS) to inspect a proposed site for a regional sports academy.
In an interview with Citi News after the inspection, Mr. Ayariga bemoaned the poor infrastructure of the Bolga sports stadium and also the lack of proper sports facilities in the whole of the Upper East Region.
He however, said the government is working to rectify the problem saying, it’s unfortunate that we have not after all these years been able to develop the infrastructure for sports in the region.
He said his Ministry is strategizing to make sure every region has good facilities for sports infrastructure.
The Sports Minister indicated that this year, his outfit is looking at putting up sports facilities for a few regions.
In relation to Bolgatanga, we are looking at developing the pitch and then other facilities in the Bolgatanga stadium.
He promised that some technical persons will be deployed to the Upper East Region to start work on the pitches and we will see how we can develop that facility. This was according to the Citifmonline.com report way back in 2015, that promise by our own brother and son making the Bolgatanga Sports Stadium a world class didn’t come to pass. We are now in 2021.
In 2017, President Akufo-Addo also announced plans by his government to rehabilitate the stadium.
Yet 2021, a Minister-designate for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif has made it clear of having no knowledge on the face lifting of Bolgatanga Stadium and is a clear signal that, is going to take a little more longer and only God knows when.
“Mr. Chairman, no, I have not received briefing on the face-lifting of Bolgatanga Sports Stadium and the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex. But if I’m given the nod, all sports facilities will be paid attention to and now that you have mentioned the two facilities, I will look into it. I will do a follow-up and pay more attention to ensure that what the President said is done,” he told a members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak during vetting on Thursday, February 25, 2021. What is the hope for the people of Upper East Region as far as issues of development are concerned?
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
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