Sekondi, August 26, GNA - Mr. Joseph B. Aidoo, Western Regional Minister has announced that the proposed stadium to host the CAN 2008 competition in the Region would not be built at the site of the Sekondi Gyandu Park as originally planned.

He said the change of venue follows engineering studies that has confirmed that the area was waterlogged and could not be ideal for the construction of the project and that it would involve a higher cost and cannot be completed on time for the competition.

Mr. Aidoo disclosed this when he held a meeting with heads of the various Decentralised Government Departments, Agencies and Ministries at Sekondi on Friday.

He said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) have thus proposed three sites for consideration by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the construction of the new stadium.

The Regional Minister said the LOC however rejected the second site near the Takoradi Polytechnic because the land had been encroached upon. Mr. Aidoo said the new stadium complex would now be built on a piece of land between Essipong and Inchaban near Sekondi to host the competition.

He hinted that the LOC is expected to inspect the new site within the next few days for work to begin.

The Regional Minister said the RCC had almost completed negotiations with the chiefs and elders of Pumpuni near Ajoa also within the Metropolitan area for a 1,000-acre land for the construction of infrastructure for a proposed oil refinery.

Mr. Aidoo said the RCC was also holding series of discussions with the World Bank to source for funding to re-train hundreds of youths engaged in "galamsey" mining operations in the Region.

He said the "galamsey" operators had extended their activities to Prestea, Bogoso, Mpohor and recently Teleku-Bokazo.

Mr. Aidoo said that children as young as eight years were actively involved in the "galamsey" activities and that their involvement could have negative impact on them since they were in their formative years. "The Nation could suffer greatly if serious efforts were not made to retrain the youth who are engaged in "galamsey" by equipping them with skills that would either make them self employed or divert their attention from the illegal mining", he stressed.

Mr. Aidoo said "galamsey" had become a social tragedy for the Western Region and all efforts must be made to minimise its impact on society.

Mr. Aidoo disclosed that between January and July 18 contracts on public projects had been terminated for either non-performance or shoddy works in the region. The heads of departments presented reports on their operations. 26 Aug. 05