The Greater Accra Sports Director, Mr Ewuntomah Richard Iddrisu, says his outfit has been four months without electricity as they have incurred a debt of about GHC18,000 in electricity bills, making operating sporting activities very difficult in the region.
These debts, he maintained, were accrued for the free usage of utilities of the offices at the Theodosia Oko Hockey Pitch where the Greater Accra Sports Directorate is located.
Not commercial venture
Mr Iddrisu explained that his outfit was not an income-generating entity and only relied on the support from the national agency to take care of its bills.
He said though the facility was usually hired for use by other sports events as well as social events, it did not charge commercial rates and thus was unable to pass on the cost to the users.
“The Greater Accra division of the NSA is not a business entity that charges the usage of facilities on commercial basis, issues like sanitation, water, lights and the furling of the generator all weigh down on us financially,” he stated.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the Greater Accra Regional Director of NSA disclosed that the region was the only one that had held the Inter-district sports festival for two consecutive years.
“Aside football and athletics, Greater Accra provided almost 95 per cent of athletes for the African Games four months ago,” he noted.
Appeal for solution
He appealed to the state to help solve the perennial electricity challenge facing the sports authority and also appealed to corporate bodies to support sports in the region.
Mr Iddrisu noted that the next Inter-district sports festival would be held in Dodowa or Ada East next year, adding that the eight disciplines would be participated in, two more than the original six.
He expressed gratitude to the Director-General of the NSA and the Youth and Sports Minister for their support in helping grow sports in Greater Accra.