Upper West youth encouraged to utilise new sports facilities

The Upper West Region has long struggled with developing its sports sector due to a lack of adequate infrastructure to nurture local talent.

The Wa Park, also known as the Malik Jabir Sports Stadium, has been the region’s primary sports venue for over four decades, but it has deteriorated significantly without major maintenance and no longer meets the standards for hosting sporting events.

Despite being known for producing talented athletes, the region has seen a decline in sports participation due to the absence of proper facilities.

Recent efforts to rehabilitate Wa Park, such as upgrading the spectator stands with the support of Alban Bagbin, have not addressed the core issue, as the pitch remains bumpy and poses a risk of injury to footballers.

In response, several individuals and organisations in the Upper West Region are undertaking initiatives to construct modern sports infrastructure, particularly astroturfs, to address this deficit. This includes the construction of an ultramodern astroturf at Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) and McCoy College of Education, led by Alban Bagbin.

A staunch supporter of the region’s development, Bagbin has partnered with Ghana Gas and Wembley Construction Company Ltd. to build the facility at McCoy College, while he is pre-financing the construction of the SDD-UBIDS astroturf.

On 26 August 2024, Bagbin cut the sod for the construction of the first phase of the SDD-UBIDS sports stadium in Wa and subsequently commissioned the completed astroturf at McCoy College, making it available for use by the institution and the wider community.

Addressing the audience at these ceremonies, Bagbin highlighted the significant contribution these facilities would make to the development of both institutions and the region as a whole.

He noted that the multi-purpose astroturf at McCoy College includes a 110-meter by 75-meter pitch, eight running tracks, a supporters’ stand, tennis and volleyball courts, fencing, public washrooms, and changing rooms. These features will also be replicated at SDD-UBIDS to lay the foundation for the construction of a sports stadium.

The former Member of Parliament for Nadowli/Kaleo, Bagbin, addressed concerns about prioritising the astro turf over other requests made by the Vice-Chancellor and other stakeholders. Acknowledging potential criticism, he emphasised that different projects are funded from separate resources and urged that opportunities should be seized when they arise.

“So, we are here to sow a seed, and we believe that this seed we are going to sow will be sown on fertile soil, and that soil is the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa campus,” Bagbin stated.

He added that the land designated for the project is ample enough to accommodate a sports stadium, with the first phase laying the groundwork for a larger future project. “And so, what we’re coming to do here, as we’ve been told, is the first phase. The others can continue even after we are gone. But we’re looking at starting on a solid foundation,” Bagbin said.

Rev. Father Peter Paul Yeletuo, Principal of McCoy College of Education, emphasised the significance of the McCoy astroturf, describing it as more than just a structure of bricks and mortar, saying, “This stadium is more than just a sports facility.”

“This stadium is more than just a sports facility. It is a symbol of the deep commitment to the development of our youth and the enhancement of their educational experience. Our students will now have access to a world-class facility that will support their physical development, foster teamwork, and breed healthy minds,” he insisted.

The principal also underscored the broader impact of the stadium on the community, noting that it would contribute to the holistic growth of students and youth across the Nandowli-Kaleo constituency and surrounding areas, indicating that “this facility will serve as a hub for the entire community of Nandowli. It will be a place where we gather to celebrate, compete, and unite.”

During the sod cutting ceremony, Prof. Emmanuel Derbile, vice-chancellor of SDD-UBIDS, emphasised that the sports complex is designed to meet both the strategic and practical needs of the university community. “It is a credit that for us in management, it’s both strategic and practical in terms of our needs,” he remarked.

The Vice-Chancellor further noted that the facility would significantly enhance the university’s ability to train students in various sports and prepare them for participation in inter-university games.

The sports complex, he explained, aligns with the university’s broader agenda to introduce physical education within the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. “This is part of the agenda we are charting together,” Derbile stated.

Derbile also expressed anticipation for the future management of the facility, emphasising its potential benefits for the wider community. He stressed that the university aims to enhance the lives of people within its catchment area, as well as throughout the country and beyond.

The Upper West Region currently has two standard sports facilities: the McCoy College of Education astroturf and the Tumu astroturf. However, this number is set to increase, as the recent sod-cutting ceremony at SDD-UBIDS by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, along with ongoing construction of astroturfs in Wa and Nandom, will soon bring the total to five.

In addition to these developments, the region is also benefiting from the construction of a multipurpose youth resource center.

This facility will feature a standard pitch, three spectator stands, VIP stands, a canteen, eight running tracks, a commentary room, and courts for volleyball, basketball, and tennis, as well as changing rooms and public washrooms.

Once completed, these structures will provide first-class training facilities for the youth in the region, offering them the opportunity to develop and nurture their talents. This expansion of sports infrastructure is expected to transform the region, giving many young people who are currently unable to fully realise their potential a chance to thrive in their chosen sports.

Reporting by Alhassan Tajudeen in the Upper West Region

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