Edward Osei-Kwaku, Youth and Sports Minister on Wednesday, cut a sod for the construction of a ?916m Sports Stadium at Aflao in line with the ministry's infrastructural drive.

The Ketu District Assembly is undertaking the project with a ?100m support from the Youth and Sports Ministry. The Minister expressed optimism that new stadia would be built in each regional capital in addition to the ones at Accra and Kumasi if proposals to host the African Cup of Nations in 2008 receive Cabinet approval.

He said the regional sports stadiums project is part of plans to improve sporting infrastructure in the country to host international sporting events and to improve on the performance of the country's sportsmen and sportswomen.

Osei Kweku commended the Ketu District Assembly for its initiative, and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana for releasing land for the project. Linus Koffie, Ketu District Chief Executive, said the Assembly is convinced that there are immense sports talents in the district to be developed into international standards when sports facilities are made available.

He said the Starlets Babies and Afife Mighty Breakers from the district have qualified to represent the Volta region in the under-14 and under 17 categories respectively of the national Milo football tournament in December this year.

Togbi Amenya Fiti V, Fiaga of Aflao Traditional area who presided, pledged ?50m on behalf of the traditional area towards the project. He commended government for its efforts at improving sports facilities in the district.