The Director General of the National Lottery Authority and Parliamentary Candidate for Akuapim South, Sammy Awuku, has officially cut the sod for the reconstruction of Mampong Coronation Park.
Once completed, the facility will feature a FIFA-standard football pitch measuring 96 by 66 meters.
The project will also include 400 spectator seats and VIP sections for esteemed dignitaries, including revered traditional leaders.
Additionally, the contractor plans to add dressing rooms for both the host and visiting teams.
Four giant floodlights will be installed at each corner of the pitch to facilitate night games, and the entire area will be enclosed with panel mesh fencing to enhance security and restrict unauthorized access.
The estimated cost of the project is four million Ghana cedis, with a projected completion timeline of three months.
Sammy Awuku told newsmen in an interview moments after the exercise on Thursday, July 25, 2024, that the reconstruction was undertaken in response to a special request from traditional leaders to modernize the pitch and improve recreational facilities for the Mampong community.
He has urged the contractor to adhere to the project schedule.
Historically, the Mampong and Sunyani Coronation Parks are among the only football pitches built by Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, in the district capitals to promote football programs.
According to the Okyeame of Mampong, the Mampong Coronation Park served as a training ground for the Black Stars and was the last pitch they used before winning the African Cup of Nations in 1982.