Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday, May 3, cut sod for work to begin on a multipurpose sports centre for the Six (6) Garrison of the Ghana Armed Forces at Tamale in the Northern Region.
The centre is the first of six such projects to be constructed for all Six (6) Garrisons of the Ghana Armed Forces in fulfilment of a pledge by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in October 2018.
The project, which is expected to be completed in 13 months, will boast among others of a FIFA standard size Football pitch, VIP box, Media box, Press room, sanitary facilities, a 400m Hockey pitch, IAAF Standard Eight (8) lane running tracks round the field, a standard size lawn tennis court, a combined Volley ball and Basketball Court, a multi-purpose hall (Gymnasium) for indoor games, two therapeutic/aromatic gardens, and offices.
The project, being supported by funds from the National Lottery Authority (NLA) to the
tune of GHc15 million, would among other things enhance sporting attributes of units within the six Garrison and promotes good esprit-de-corps among the units to enable them carry out their mandate of providing peace and security in the north and the country as a whole.
It will not be used by only the military but the entire Tamale and its surrounding areas to enhance and deepen military-civilian relationship.
According to Vice President Dr. Bawumia, the Akufo-Addo led government is committed to sports development and is determined to revive Ghana sports at all levels and in all spheres to reclaim past glories and attain relevance in the global sporting fraternity.
He said government had executed a number of projects such as the Barracks Regeneration project phase one, which was about 90 per cent complete, the Defense Health Initiative comprising 500 bed Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region, which was 70% complete among others.
Dr. Bawumia also assured of government’s commitment to developing the Tamale Metropolis into a major tourism and commercial area adding government, in June this year, would be back in Tamale to cut sod for a first class airport terminal to be built at the Tamale Airport.
The Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, said the edifice would be furnished with the state-of-the-art equipment to help enhance a healthy lifestyle for the people of the Northern Region as well as offer a lot of job opportunities for the many young people as part of the government’s vision of creating jobs.
Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, pledged the support of the Regional
Coordinating Council to ensure that the project was completed as scheduled.
The Paramount Chief of Tamale, Gukpe Naa Abdulai Alhassan commended government for its efforts in maintaining peace in Dagbon as well as supporting in the successful enskinment of the Overlord of Dagbon.
Also, the Vice President handed over an ambulance to officials of the Base Hospital to assist in the delivery of medical services to the officers and military personnel of the 6 Garrison.
