The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has called for a comprehensive management and revenue-generation plan for the Sekondi Sports Stadium to prevent the facility from falling into disrepair again after its ongoing rehabilitation.
Mr Nelson said the substantial resources being invested in restoring the Essipong-based facility could be undermined if the stadium was left underutilised after the completion of the works.
He therefore urged the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to begin planning for the long-term use and maintenance of the facility.
The Regional Minister made the call when he inspected ongoing rehabilitation works at the stadium and expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far.
He said completing the rehabilitation would address only part of the challenge, stressing that a sustainable utilisation model was needed to keep the facility functional and generate resources for its regular maintenance.
“Once it is done, we should have a good plan in place on how the place will be utilised, so that at least the maintenance of the place can happen. Otherwise, the facility will be left idle to deteriorate again,” he said.
Mr Nelson noted that when the government assumed office, the actual condition of the stadium did not correspond with claims that the facility was about 90 per cent complete.
“When we took office, it was clear that the state of the stadium was not what was claimed to be 90 per cent complete, because its condition was far worse than that,” he said.
He, however, commended the Minister of Sports and Recreation for taking an interest in the facility, visiting the site and facilitating the return of the contractor to the project.
He said the renewed activity had resulted in visible improvements, including progress on the stadium’s seating arrangements.
Concern over regular use
Mr Nelson identified the absence of a major professional football club based in Sekondi as one of the challenges that could affect the stadium’s long-term sustainability.
He said the decline of traditional Sekondi-based clubs such as Sekondi Hasaacas and Eleven Wise meant the facility might not have enough regular competitive football fixtures to keep it active.
He consequently called for the development of alternative sporting and commercial activities that could attract users and generate revenue for maintenance.
The Regional Minister stressed that the investment in rehabilitating the stadium made it important for the facility to remain productive rather than become idle once the contractor leaves.
He said a deliberate utilisation strategy involving sporting events and other commercial activities would help protect the facility from another cycle of deterioration and ensure that the rehabilitated stadium continued to serve the people of the Western Region.
