Obrempong Dr Arafat Sulemana Abdulai, the Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF), has urged communities who have benefitted from the construction of Community Sports and Social Centres (Astro Turfs) to “cooperate and collaborate effectively with the Fund for the efficient maintenance and durability of the facilities.”
Dr Abdulai said the construction of astro turfs was a clear implementation of the mandate of the Fund in the area of Sports, Recreation and Community Mobilisation for Social Cohesion and Economic Development.
The Fund, he stated, had invested in the construction of 20 Community Sports and Social Centres (Astro Turfs), thereby emerging as the foremost provider of community sports infrastructure in the country.
The CEO of ZoDF noted that the Fund recognizes the “inexhaustible sporting assets in Zongo communities and remains committed to providing enabling infrastructure to unearth, harness and nurture these talents for sustainable socio-economic growth and development.”
Additionally, the opportunities for community mobilisation through the colorful festivals, diverse social and cultural events to promote social cohesion in Zongos and other beneficiary communities are immense. These facilities, the CEO continued, provide suitable avenues for bringing communities together and promoting ethno-religious dialogue.
Obrempong Dr Abdulai made these statements at the inspection of the Community Sports and Social Centre (astro turf) in Essikado, Western Region, funded by the Zongo Development Fund, last Friday.
The programme included a football gala competition among teams in the Western Region witnessed by the Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketia; Member of Parliament for Essikado Ketan, Mr Joe Ghartey; the Queenmother of Essikado, other dignitaries and the general public.
Obrempong Abdulai expressed gratitude to the Omanhene and the Member of Parliament for the support and cooperation rendered to the Fund towards the construction of the facility.
Dr Abdulai also stated that arrangements were progressing for the inauguration of management committees involving all key stakeholders for all astro turfs in order to ensure the efficient maintenance of the facilities, and generate revenue for the replication of the facilities in other Zongo communities.
On his part, Nana Nketia heaped praises on the Zongo Development Fund and the Dr Abdulai for the provision of the facility and assured that the facility would contribute to the “enhancement of sporting activities, promote commercial activities and provide avenues for community engagement and mobilisation.”
Obrempong Dr Abdulai later paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene at his palace.
The CEO was accompanied by Mr Abdul Majeed Adam, Programmes and Projects, Mr. Hafiz Mohammed Bamba, Monitoring and Evaluation and Ahmed Ayuba, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Officer.