Gold Fields Ghana Limited has upgraded the Akoon Community Park in the Tarkwa- Nsuaem Municipality of the Western region at the cost of GH¢ 1.8 million.
The scope of work included a standard fit- for purpose pitch, a redesigned change room, a VIP seating stand and a ticket booth.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa, Mr Alfred Baku, recalled that the park was constructed by the State Gold Mining Corporation in the 1970s and used to be the only venue for recreational activities for the Akoon communities.
However, he noted that, the park deteriorated over the years and in 2017,the company decided to improve it to an acceptable standard.
Mr Baku said the Akoon Park now served as the home grounds for Medeama Football Club and Karela United Club.
On January 5, Medeama FC played their first match at the Akoon Park in ongoing Premier League and that the team had not lost any game at the facility.
He said: “The Akoon Park, indeed, has become an indomitable venue for Medeama FC and questions are being asked whether the club will relocate to the Tarkwa Sports Stadium when renovation work was completed.”
Mr Baku appealed to the Akoon community to eschew violence during matches to ensure safety at the park, stressing that “football is a game, one will lose and one will win.”
“This is a huge investment. We need also to have good maintenance regime. If we don’t maintain the park it will not last.”
Mr Baku assured that the mining company had planned to sponsor Medeama since, the bankroller; Moses alone could not carry the burden of finance.
“We will launch the sponsorship on March 12.We want football in Tarkwa to grow and we will do this to spur economic development and Akoon will also grow and Takwa will boom.” he stressed.
The Chief of Akoon, Nana Kwame Abban, was happy about the project and believed that Gold Fields initiatives had rekindled football spirit in the Tarkwa municipality.
The Akoon Park, he said, had groomed veritable players including Opoku Nti, Barima Nsu and Kofi Amponsah.
“The Gyaasehene of the Apinto Division, Nana Dr Adarkwa Bediako III, noted that the reconstruction of the Akoon Park showed that good things were coming to the Tarkwa areas and suggested that Gold Fields should take over the management of collapsed Real Tarkwa United.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, AKOON
