03/06/2023
When you see the condition of Essipong Sports Stadium, you will realize that it is in a sordid state beyond imagining.
Then I shudder to ask few questions: Does the facility have managers? Do the managers accrue revenue from the facility? if yes what do they use it for?
These among several other questions beg for answers following deliberate lack of maintenance culture on the part of managers especially National Sports Authority whose ineptitude has led the facility to its current deteriorated state.
It baffles my mind for a nation that is in demand for numerous sports facilities for honing talents but can't apply maintenance culture on the already existing ones for development and growth of the game.
Experts of the game have opined that many budding talents in sports are left unearthed due to limited sport infrastructure in the country, ironically, existing facilities are left to rot like the Essipong Sports stadium.
A facility that was built in 2008, about 15 years on, no maintenance or renovation.This must dawned on us much earlier to know that, the stadium won't be the same as days go by, hence, needed maintenance attention.
As a nation we have failed to put various stadia in good shape for no justifiable cause but only to say pure negligence, bad faith and lip service, characteristics of our leaders.
As part of Government's maintenance policy, the Essipong Stadium should have been renovated last year as government through the finance minister captured its refurbishment in November 2021 budget.Sad to note that nothing has been done about it. Then we pride ourselves to say that we are sports nation. No! We are only hallucinating.
Authorities must sit up to do the needful by giving facelift to our stadia including the Aliu Mahama Sports stadium as signs of its poor condition are also written on the walls and urgent steps must be taken to upgrade it for purpose.
