Vice President of the Republic, Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned the FIFA-standardized Tumu Astro-turf built by the Ghana National Gas Company.

The multi-purpose sports facility, executed by Blaze Investment Company and completed within six months, will host various games and other functional activities.

Ghana Gas, together with the Vice President and his entourage, called on the chiefs and people in the Sissala East Municipality to interact with them on some of the challenges in the area.

A representative of the Ghana Gas Company, Anyimah Edomgbole, addressing the people at a meeting in Tumu, said the promotion of sports has been one of the cardinal principles of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his Vice, H.E. Bawumia.

He revealed that the Tumu sports facility was the fifth Astro-turf to be constructed by the Ghana Gas Company in the northern part of Ghana, with over 40 more under construction and commissioned for use across the country.

He expressed hope that the facility will help unearth football talents in the municipality and the Upper East Region in general.

The gas company believes that providing a sports facility in the area would enable the youth to engage in meaningful activities during their leisure time rather than engaging in illicit activities.

According to the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, the multi-purpose sports facility will go down in history as a transformative project for the youth in the area and the entire region.

“I want all of you to remember that on this historic commissioning of this FIFA-standardized Tumu Astro-turf in the Sissala East Municipality, the government will continue to provide facilities that will transform your lives,” he said.

He commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for working very hard together with the municipality.

“Your MP has done an excellent job; he worked very hard to bring this Astro-turf to Tumu in the Sissala East Municipality.

“What we’re seeing today is the work of the New Patriotic Party. Like I always say, despite the global economic challenges, our government has done more than any other government in the Fourth Republic. People sometimes don’t understand, but I speak with data.

“No government has done more roads than us, no government has done more interchanges than us, more health facilities than us, more schools than us, more STEM schools than us, more sports facilities than us, railways, and many more infrastructures.

“When we came into government, there were only three Astro-turfs in Ghana, but today we have about 150 Astro-turfs across the country, and more Astro-turfs are being built in most constituencies.

"Everybody is demanding one in their constituency, and very soon, it will be one Astro-turf, one constituency,” he assured.

He lauded the hardworking youth of Sissala and assured them that the NPP government believes in the youth and that sports are very important for the development of the youth.

The Member of Parliament, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, said the Tumu people are blessed with such a wonderful edifice of an Astro-turf.

“The people are grateful, and we thank the Vice President for this project,” he said through an interpreter.

“This Astro-turf is capable of hosting any football match, including Premier League matches and any other FIFA-sanctioned football match.

“Dr. Bawumia has commissioned this FIFA-standardized turf. The youth will make good use of it to unearth better talents in the municipality.

"I can say with confidence that the youth and people of Sissala East, come December 7, will vote massively for Dr. Bawumia and the NPP party as president and Amidu Jnr as MP."