The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has called for the development of a sustainable management plan for the Sekondi Sports Stadium to prevent the facility from deteriorating again after its ongoing rehabilitation.
According to Mr. Nelson, completing the physical rehabilitation works would only address part of the challenge, stressing the need for the stadium to be regularly utilised and generate sufficient revenue to support its maintenance.
The Minister said the condition of the facility was far worse than had previously been portrayed when the current administration assumed office, despite earlier claims that the project was more than 90 percent complete.
He explained that subsequent inspections revealed missing cables, inadequate lighting and security infrastructure, as well as substantial works that were still outstanding.
Mr. Nelson commended the Minister for Sports and Recreation for intervening to ensure that the contractor returned to site, resulting in significant progress on the rehabilitation.
However, he cautioned that completing the project must be accompanied by a clear strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of the facility.
He therefore called on the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the National Sports Authority (NSA) to develop a comprehensive plan for the regular use of the stadium and the generation of revenue to finance its upkeep.
Explore more uses for stadium
The Western Regional Minister noted that the limited number of professional football clubs in the region meant authorities could not rely solely on football-related activities to sustain the facility.
He urged the authorities to explore other sporting events, entertainment programmes and commercial activities that could attract regular patronage and generate income.
Mr. Nelson stressed that revenue generated from the stadium should be reinvested into its maintenance to preserve the facility and prevent it from falling into disrepair again.
He said the significant public investment being made in rehabilitating the stadium must be protected through effective management and continuous maintenance.
According to him, the ultimate success of the rehabilitation would not be measured only by the completion of construction works but also by the ability to keep the Sekondi Sports Stadium active, financially sustainable and accessible to the people of the Western Region.
