President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday joined the chiefs and people of Adaklu in the Volta Region for a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose youth and sports centre.

It is one of 10 to be situated nationwide.

Minister for Youth and Sports Isaac Asiamah, who was present at the ceremony, explained that the construction of the multi-purpose centres of excellence in the 10 regions of the country is being done at the behest of President Akufo-Addo.

The deliberate provision of these facilities, the Minister stressed, “has never happened before in this country. It is a major intervention by the President in making sure that we have modern sporting facilities across the country.”

The initial design for the Adaklu Youth and Sports Resource Centre was meant to have a 5,000-seating capacity.

But the Sports Minister noted that with the intervention of the Volta Region Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, the Adaklu facility will now have a 10,000-seating capacity.

“This is not just a sports stadium,” he said.

“It is more than a sports stadium because of its additional facilities. When it is completed, it will have a FIFA-standard football pitch, a modern 9-lane athletic track, tennis courts, basketball, handball and volley ball courts, and a modern gymnasium.”

Additionally, the facility, the Minister said, has been fitted with a counselling centre, an ICT centre, an entrepreneurship centre and a modern restaurant.

Mr Asiamah had some words of praise for the president.

“What you are doing, within four years of your administration, in terms of sports infrastructure and youth facilities, has never happened in the country.

“You will be remembered tomorrow as the President who provided modern sporting facilities in the country.”

All ten projects, the Sports Minister assured, will be commissioned in April of 2019, after which the next phase of construction for 10 more youth and sports development centres will begin.

On his part, President Akufo-Addo noted that, apart from his government’s determination to create opportunities for Ghanaian youth to find work, “they must have places of recreation and for developing their sporting prowess”.

“This multi-purpose resource centre will respond to that need.”