The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South Constituency, Kingsley Agyemang, has officially handed over a newly constructed AstroTurf facility to St. Peter’s Senior High School (STEPSS) to enhance sports development and promote healthy lifestyles among students and the surrounding community.
The facility, which is equipped with a modern floodlighting system, will allow both students and residents to engage in sporting and recreational activities at any time of the day or night.
Speaking to journalists after the handover, Dr. Agyemang said the project forms part of a broader vision to promote physical education and preventive healthcare through increased physical activity.
According to him, the development of sports infrastructure has become increasingly important due to the rising cases of non-communicable diseases in Ghana.
Referencing concerns highlighted in the State of the Nation Address, he noted that a significant number of deaths in the country are linked to non-communicable diseases such as Heart disease and Diabetes, which are often associated with sedentary lifestyles.
“Physical education is very key and physical activity is very important. The President emphasized that one out of every two deaths in Ghana is linked to non-communicable diseases. We cannot wait for people to fall sick before we act; we must focus on prevention,” he said.
Dr. Agyemang explained that the AstroTurf facility was designed not only for students of STEPSS but also for residents of the Siakwa community and the wider Abuakwa South constituency.
“With the floodlights installed here, even at dawn, midnight or late at night, people can come here and exercise. If anyone wants to see how a 24-hour economy operates, they can see it here through sports and physical activity,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining the facility, noting that the sustainability of such infrastructure requires collaboration between those who finance the projects and the communities that benefit from them.
“Whenever we hand over a facility like this, it is a shared responsibility between those who financed it and the people who use it. We don’t simply hand it over and walk away. We remain involved to ensure it serves generations,” he said.
Dr. Agyemang further explained that the decision to construct the AstroTurf within the school compound was deliberate to ensure proper supervision and prevent misuse.
“We could have located it in the town centre, but we intentionally placed it here in the school so that it can be managed properly. I am confident that the school authorities will not allow it to be used for activities such as funerals or unrelated events,” he stated.
The Headmaster of St. Peter’s Senior High School, Rev. Edward Asamoah Boateng, who received the facility on behalf of the school, expressed gratitude to the MP for what he described as a major boost to sports development in the institution.
He noted that the new AstroTurf would significantly improve sporting activities in the school and provide students with a modern facility to nurture their talents.
According to him, the school had long needed a standard playing facility, and the project would help strengthen both training and inter-school competitions.
The headmaster also assured that the school authorities would ensure the proper management and maintenance of the facility so that it continues to benefit both the students and the wider community.
The commissioning of the AstroTurf marks a significant step toward improving sports infrastructure at STEPSS while creating a safe space for students and residents to engage in regular physical activity.
