The football pitch of the Sunyani Coronation Park used as venue by the National Democratic Congress on Saturday to launch the party’s 2016 manifesto has been damaged.
The situation has caused an outstanding Division One League match between Tano Bofoakwa and Bolgatanga FC, which was scheduled for Sunday on the pitch, to be called off by officials.
TV3’s Komla Klutse reports that the Coronation Park has been left in a deplorable state as the field of play has become soggy and ridden with marks of vehicle tyres.
Vehicles of high-ranking party officials were driven on portions of the field of play and that has left it in a bad shape for Sunday’s match. There was a downpour Saturday morning and the tyres of the vehicles consequently worsened the condition of the already soggy pitch.
When TV3’s news team visited the site Sunday morning, the Park messy with all forms of waste, especially plastic water bottles and polyethylene bags were scattered all over. Cleaners were busily sweeping the place.
Football authorities in the region have consequently postponed the game to Wednesday as they try to put the park into shape.
Regional Sports Director, George Osafo Agyei, told TV3’s Komla Klutese that the deputy sports minister who was at the NDC event expressed disappointment at extent of damage.
“He has asked our administrator to get In touch with the ministry in Accra for an assessment of the only stadium in the region to be costed and arrangements made for a major refurbishment,” Mr Agyei told our correspondent.
He also revealed plans were ongoing for a new regional stadium to be built considering the current poor state of the Sunyani Coronation Park, something he said has dwindled football activities in the region.