Glitz Africa, in collaboration with Ghana Gas, has cut sod for the construction of a modern Astro Turf at the Unik Park, Kotei in the Oforikrom municipality of Ashanti Region.

The Region boasts of about fifteen artificial turfs, but only one, the GUSS Sports Complex at KNUST, is situated within the Oforikrom municipality.

The people of Oforikrom will soon have another one to host football and other sporting events.

Glitz CEO, Claudia Abena Kwarteng Lumor, as part of efforts to aid sports development in the region sourced funding from Ghana Gas to construct the first government-owned Astro turf in the Oforikrom municipality.

The edifice, to be constructed by Best Limited, will have fences, washrooms, floodlights and a standard football field that can host international matches when completed.

Managing Director of Best Limited Construction Firm, Nana Antwi confirmed that the facility will be ready for use in six months.

Speaking during a colorful ceremony to cut sod for the construction of this ground breaking facility, Claudia Abena Kwarteng Lumor, who is the brain behind this project explained why she took the initiative to get an astro turf for the people of Kotei.

According to her, the goal is to assist in unearthing more football talents within the constituency.

“I am from the Constituency, I grew up in the Constituency, I am hugely passionate about the Constituency and I do come to the Constituency so I see the youth playing football.

“The community, the young people, the youth here are hugely talented and they are hugely passionate about sports and to be here every time and to see them playing on this pitch that could be improved gave me the initiative and the passion and the drive to go and speak to leaders and to seek advice if potentially we could have astro turf in this community.

It was a long process, it wasn’t easy but today we are all here seeing the beautiful things that’s been happening, a ground breaking ceremony."

The Glitz CEO is hopeful the facility will be ready for use in time to inspire more sports development initiatives in the region.

“I am really humbled by it and I am hoping that we can finish this project on time and to even inspire the young people and the talents we have in this constituency even more,” she said.

The financiers of the project, Ghana Gas, confirmed funding has been secured for the facility. Frank Gyamfi, a senior officer at Ghana Gas, assured his entity’s commitment towards the completion of the project.

“For Ghana Gas, our vision is to support the President of Ghana's vision of giving astro turf to every constituency. For Ghana Gas, if we decide to tackle a project, it means that the funding is intact so as for funding, there is no problem at all.

“We normally give our contractors six months to complete the project. If contractors are not able to complete the project within six months, it means that there might be a problem, maybe there might be some misunderstanding within the catchment area.

“If there is no misunderstanding or if there is no problem as for the funding, it is assured within six months, the project needs to be completed,” said Mr. Gyamfi.