Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide has emphasized that government was very modest in spending over GHC 100,000 to rename the Tamale Sports Stadium after the late Vice President Aliu Mahama.

The Stadium which was built in 2008 during the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor to be used for the African Cup of Nations was renamed the ‘Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium’ over the weekend.

The Sports Ministry organized keep-fit sessions and a ceremonial football match between Southern and Northern select sides of which the former won by 2-1 to lift the trophy to commemorate the renaming of the stadium.

"So there were a series of activities that were organized to honour the hero. Organizational cost, the Trophy, beyond the trophy GHC50, 000 was at stake as the cash prize but we were very modest in our expenditure", he said.

Pius Hadzide revealed that the expenditure for the renaming of the Stadium was sponsored by the state, tallying GHC 100,000 cedis of the taxpayer’s money and thus it was wisely spent; contrary to reports that McDan Group of Companies sponsored the event.

Although many were against the renaming of the Tamale Stadium to Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium the Deputy Sports Minister believes the renaming is the best the state can do to honour the former 2nd gentleman of the motherland.”