Symbol of a 50-year diplomatic bond between Ghana and China

kwame

May 4, 2016 12:14 PM

"This stadium was built as a symbol to mark 50 years of Ghana-China diplomatic relations" - President John Dramani Mahama

"On that note ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to declare the new Cape Coast stadium formally opened,"

It was to officially commission the ultra-modern 16,000 capacity stadium, a multi sports facility wholly financed by the China government as a gift to Ghana.

President Mahama, supported by the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Son Baohong, among other senior government officials for the occasion, revealed the impressive edifice which cost $30 million is a symbol of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Ghana and China.

"On behalf of the people of Ghana, I wish to extend through you Madam Ambassador to the President and the people of China our appreciation for this beautiful gift constructed at the cost of $30million,” President John Dramani Mahama said.

"This stadium was built as a symbol to mark 50 years of Ghana-China diplomatic relations. It was built under the government of China's grant facility. This means that this stadium was built by China for the Republic of Ghana free of charge, free of charge" he stated.

The resounding euphoria inside the stadium underscored the overwhelming joy of the people of Cape Coast in having a state of the art stadium. Cape Coast is a historical landmark for Ghana football as the Victoria park (now Jubilee park), hosted the first football match in the country between Cape Coast Excelsior and a Combined Team of British Sailors on Boxing Day, 26 December, 1903.

Residents from all walks of life, little children to the very aged and various dignitaries tenaciously trooped into the 16,000-seater arena from morning and waited passionately till president Mahama declared them rightful owners of the beautiful artwork in the evening.

The President, awed by the facilities provided in the stadium took time to mention them to the delight of the crowd.

"This is the first truly multipurpose stadium in Ghana. It is unique and it is one of a kind in this country. It has table tennis hall, it has boxing gym, it has a handball court, it has basketball court, it has a volleyball court, it has tennis court, it has modern tartan tracks for athletics, it has a football pitch, it has a sixty bed hostel, it has a kitchen, it has a ten room for camping sports men and women, and indeed it has the newest football pitches I have seen in Ghana today.

"This is a stadium that the Central Region and indeed the whole of Ghana can be proud of. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not all. This stadium comes with all the sports equipment required for every sport you can think about.

“It has javelin spears, it has discuss, it has short putt, it has pole volt bars, it has high jump bars, it has a hammer throw, it has a starting blocks for track and field event.

“This stadium has been provided with all the equipment for the sports that will be performed here," he happily said.

President Mahama continued by stating that the availability of the stadium should produce world class sportsmen for the nation.

"With this new stadium, the country now has four venues with tartan tracks where athletics can take place. This is the key to the development of our athletes for international competitions and I know that the Ghana Athletics Association and our athletes will be delighted just as our boxers and footballers are.

"We have always decried the lack of attention for the so called lesser known sports. In this new stadium we have all the facilities for training of many of those athletes into world class champions," he intimated.

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