Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has directed the Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa Nsuaem Assembly, Ebenezer Cobbinah, to constitute a management committee comprising members of the National Sports Authority to oversee the T&A Park.
Commissioned on August 16, 2024, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Sports Stadium, upgraded by Goldfields Ghana from a 400-seater facility to an ultra-modern arena with over 10,000 seats capacity, has sparked a heated dispute over its supervision.
The controversy arises between the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly.
During the commissioning ceremony, the facility was handed over to the NSA. However, the previous Municipal Chief Executive, Benjamin Kesse, had declined to allow NSA to assume managerial control, instead forming a committee that excluded NSA members.
Joseph Alabi Bortey said, “Prior to the handover ceremony, former Municipal Chief Executive Benjamin Kesse had vowed not to allow the National Sports Authority to take over operations.”
“Following the director’s dismissal, I returned from Accra to learn that Benjamin Kesse had stormed the facility with a group of men, prompting me to instruct my team members to vacate the premises for their safety.” He mentioned.
Joseph Alabi Bortey further alleged that, according to his findings, the management of the stadium has been handed over to Medeama Sporting Club, a decision he asserts is unlawful and contravenes national regulations.
“Handing over the keys to Mr. Moses Parker is equivalent to handing over a state asset to a private club, specifically Medeama FC, which is a limited liability company. This raises concerns about the facility’s future, as Mr. Parker would have control over it.
If he decides to sell Medeama FC, what would happen to the facility? Currently, the Assembly is not in charge of the facility’s management; instead, it’s Medeama FC. Even the committee formed by the former MCE excludes the National Sports Authority (NSA), which is concerning. For effective facility management, the NSA should have been involved in the committee.” He said.
To find a lasting solution to the issue, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has instructed the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive, Ebenezer Cobbinah, to immediately form a management committee for the T&A Park.
The committee will include representatives from the National Sports Authority to ensure effective oversight.
“I propose establishing a management system that includes both the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Assembly to oversee the stadium. This collaborative approach would ensure effective management of not only the physical structure but also the matches played at the stadium. Without NSA involvement, it’s unclear how the operational aspects of the stadium would be managed,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa Nsuaem Assembly, Ebenezer Cobbinah, has requested additional time from the Regional Minister to engage stakeholders on the matter.
“While I acknowledge your decision, I’d like to request some time to familiarize myself with the surrounding issues. Would it be possible to revisit this matter and reconvene the meeting at a later date? This would allow me to get up to speed on the stadium’s issues and come back better prepared.” He pleaded.
