The ongoing renovation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi is 97 per cent complete, according to Mr Kofi Addai, the Principal Estate Manager, Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Sports Authority (NSA).

He said the pitch itself is completed and that it was currently being tested to see how best it could handle heavy downpours, one of the main bottlenecks which among other factors prompted for renovation works to be carried on the stadium.

"We have identified the problem and it will soon be rectified", he said, adding that once that is done, the pitch would be handed over for use, while the second phase of renovation continues.

Working visit

Mr Addai made this known on Thursday when he accompanied the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei Mensah on a working visit to some project sites in Kumasi.

Also present was Mr Emmanuel Kojo Appiah, the acting Regional Director of Sports.

First phase

He said, aside from improving the pitch, approximately 22,000 broken seats have been replaced and a digital scoreboard was also installed to replace the analogue one.

Mr Addai hinted that the VVIP stands which before had a seating capacity of 155, has also been reduced to 87 seats to make it spacious and comfortable for dignitaries.

"This time around, we will roof the entire VVIP arcade to ward off sun and rains", he noted, adding that the seats for the arcade have been changed from plastic to leather chairs and needed to be protected from the rains.

With regards to illumination, he said the initial incandescent floodlighting system has also been changed to LED bulbs to reduce power consumption.

Second phase

He said the second phase was which includes the painting of the outskirts of the stadium, walls, fixing of lights in and around the stadium was ongoing.

He said there is also going to be an aquatic centre, which will comprise a swimming pool and a multipurpose court.

Caution

On his part, Mr Osei Mensah, expressed satisfaction at work done on the stadium, saying: "I am happy football is coming back to Kumasi. I love soccer and can't wait to see the reopening of the stadium".

He also warned that persons who break seats at the stadium would be surcharged as the government will no longer bear the cost of such losses.