PRESS CONFERENCE IN APPRECIATION OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF RT. HON. A.S.K BAGBIN, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS IN THE UPPER WEST REGION

PRESS CONFERENCE IN APPRECIATION OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF RT. HON. A.S.K BAGBIN, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS IN THE UPPER WEST REGION

Distinguished media friends, football administrators, retired footballers, sports writers, colleague presenters, invited guest, proud sons and daughters of the Upper West Region, we appreciate your presence at this press conference to celebrate an eminent son of the region. We also acknowledge your commentaries on, and support for the development of sports in the region. Such commitment to sports development have come from different facets of the community. Football is a game that thrives on teamwork, and our gathering here reflects that – team work. The Ubuntus will say, “I am because of you and you are because of me; together we are stronger”.

Ladies and gentlemen, permit us to use this memorable occasion to congratulate the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, on his election as the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at its the recent meeting in Halifax, Canada. His election, undoubtedly, is in recognition of his commitment and dedication to the development of parliamentary practice, particularly within the Commonwealth of Nations. We are confident that his tenure would be a huge success and a point of reference for generations to come.

Sons and daughters of this region, this press conference is to provide some light on the commitment to and impact of one of the icons of this region. A rare son from the Sansuni and Bagbin family in Sombo in the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency with an ever-welcoming countenance, he has been supporting generations across the entire region financially and socially.

We are referring to a committed lawmaker who defied the odds to reshape the dynamics of African politics, thanks to his command over parliamentary practice and procedure, as well as the Queen’s language. Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is the face of parliament practice in Africa and the Commonwealth today. We are here to appreciate his invaluable support for sports in the Upper West Region, and to say Barika with a united voice for rescuing our source of entertainment and to some extent livelihood. He has provided shelter for the thousands of fans that are set to grace the 2022/23 National Division One League, MTN FA Cup Matches, Regional Division Two League matches and Juvenile Matches at the Wa Sports Stadium. He has screened us from the scorching sun and rescued us from the utter humiliation and mockery from visiting teams by renovating the Upper West Regional Sports stadium.

Our friends from the media, as typical of any doer and proactive leader, the happiness and safety of those around him are as fundamental as any responsibility he has. The value of a leader is a function of the linkage between him and those he leads; so is it a function of his accessibility, truthfulness, and readiness to help. These attributes are amply espoused by the Rt. Hon. Bagbin. When we called on him to help renovate our dilapidated stadium, he responded with alacrity. Our initial request to him was to renovate the Ghana at 50 VIP Stand but he extended the work to the Eastern section of the pitch. He even added a security zone, which is now a mandatory requirement for Premier and Division One League Match Centers, replaced the old and faulty water closets and wash basins in the washroom, and improved the interior decor of the stands, among other priceless interventions.

It is instructive to state that football industry players are not surprised at these timely interventions because the Rt. Hon. Speaker has been supporting some football clubs on the quiet. His quest to revive female sports has succeeded in taking a few of our sisters off the streets and away from early marriages into active football careers.

The iconic bond between Real Crusaders Ladies Football Club and the Rt. Hon. Speaker is a living testimony. He recently donated footballs and other equipment, which changed the entire outlook of the Real Crusaders Ladies Football Club from an amateur division one club into a professionally-run football club. The stunning outfit was out-doored at the just ended National Middle League staged at Techiman for the Northern Zone. Real Crusaders Ladies FC reciprocated the support from their benefactor by changing the name of the club to Sung Shinning Ladies FC, in honor of the Speaker. His love for sports and the desire to see our sisters pursue something meaningful and eschew promiscuous lives, motivated the Speaker to support female sports. He has reshaped the entire fortunes of the club.

As a coalition of the entire Upper West sporting ecosystem, this gathering here of radio presenters, football fans, athletes, retired footballers, football coaches and administrators, showbiz personalities, and other sons and daughters of the region, extend our collective appreciation to the Rt. Hon. Speaker for this kind gesture. Who could have rescued us from this death trap of a stadium? How were we going to raise such amount of money to renovate the facility? Well, if you have a committed son of the land, like Rt. Hon. Bagbin, your needs become his priorities. We just cannot wait to massively welcome him, anytime he chooses to visit the Wa Stadium.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we are not quantity surveyors to estimate the amount spent on the renovation but just a cursory look at the stadium now gives an indication of the amount of money the Rt. Hon. Bagbin might have spent on the facility. The sporting fraternity as a collective says to you ‘Garibanye, Barika ane fo tungsuuhe.’ May your political journey reach the global pinnacle, may your name resonate when politicians are called, may God remember you when He is about sharing wealth, health, fame or clean hearts.

We cannot conclude this press conference without making another crucial appeal to the indefatigable Speaker of Parliament, in an Oliver Twist fashion. Since the Anas Aremeyaw Anas expose in 2018, the Upper West Region has been without a Premier League Club, which situation is affecting the sport, local tourism and the region’s economy.

The renovated Wa Sports Stadium needs to be put to optimum use. Fortunately, the region is blessed with two Division One Clubs in Suntaa SC and Maana FC, which boast of some of the best and exciting talents capable of playing in the Premier League, with the needed logistic and financial support. We therefore call on the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the Members of Parliament in this region to invest in these clubs so we could bring premier league football to the Upper West Region. This will help develop the football talents in the region, improve livelihoods and enhance empowerment and development.
Please find attached some visuals of the facility before the renovations and after the renovations.
Thank you.

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Ismail Saani, Convener/Sports Writer, 0207413977