Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency, Francis Asenso Boakye has named a newly inaugurated Astroturf Pitch after his deceased predecessor, Daniel Okyem Aboagye.
It comes a day after the demise of Mr. Daniel Okyem Aboagye who died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after a short illness.
The facility is the fourth pitch constructed in the constituency under the present administration and through the current Member of Parliament and Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye.
A fierst contest in the NPP parliamentary primaries in 2020 between Francis Asenso Boakye and Daniel Okyem Aboagye led to the exit of the deceased MP from parliament.
Notwithstanding, according to the Minister, the cordial relationship between the late Okyem Aboagye and himself, forged in their formative years continued after the primaries.
He described the late Daniel Okyem Aboagye as a hardworking and brilliant person who was serious about his job.
''The late Okyem Aboagye was my four-year interval senior at the Secondary School, we went to the University and we both lived in America. We had a great relationship as brothers and friends. His demise is a big blow to the New Patriotic Party'', Mr. Asenso-Boakye added.
He promised his readiness to support the family of the Late Daniel Okyem Aboagye in preparation towards his funeral rites.
Speaking briefly about the AstroTurf Pitch that was outdoored at Ohwim in the Bantama Constituency, the former Deputy Chief of Staff disclosed that he is lobbying for the sports facilities to help unearth and groom more sports talents in the constituency.
''Bantama has already been a brooding place for hatching big football personalities who have made it to the international level'', he stressed.
Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye charged the leadership of Ohwim and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to ensure maintenance of the facility. He added there is a committee set to manage the usage of the pitch, stressing that monies accrued from users outside the Ohwim/Amanfrom area would be used for its maintenance.
Naming the pitch, Hon. Asenso-Boakye stated ''we all know how painful the demise of our immediate past MP, the late Hon. Okyem Aboagye has been to all of us. I have consulted leadership of the NPP in Bantama, the KMA and Traditional authorities of this area, and we have all come to consensus that we name this AstroTurf Pitch after Hon. Okyem Aboagye, as a means of honouring him for his great works. So this pitch is forever called the Okyem Aboagye AstroTurf Pitch''
Sports Minister and Member of Parliament for Yagaba Kubore, Hon. Mustapha Yusif who joined his colleague to inaugurate the Okyem Aboagye AstroTurf Pitch, stated that the Nana Akufo-Addo government has performed better in the provision of sports infrastructure than all the post-independence governments.
He chronicled the completion of one hundred and fifty one AstroTurf Pitches; building of ten 5000-seating capacity Youth Resource Centers; renovation of major sports stadia; provision of structures for indoor games among other steps, as some positive efforts by the NPP government to develop the sports in the country.
He commended MP for Bantama, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye for his excellent performance which is bringing much relief and joy to his people.
The Mayor of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Samuel Payne, Chiefs and representatives from Ghana Gas Company Ltd and the New Patriotic Party; all took turns delivering short speeches, emphasising the need for proper maintenance of the pitch.
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