Kufuor�s Olympic Stadium Turns Cassava Farm

THE SITE for the much anticipated multi-billion cedis Olympics stadium conceived under former President John Agyekum Kufuor�s administration to train young athletics and footballers in the country is now a cassava farm. The yet to be completed stadium has also been declared a no go area in the evening by hardened criminals and wee smokers who seize the location to inflict terror on the residents by robbing them at knife and gun point. The project, which began prior to the CAN 2008 tournament, has after several years of its commencement only seen the construction of a wall around the site. Because the site serves as the shortest link route from Amasaman to Afiaman residents have reduced the land to a place of convenience and dumping site. Checks by the paper revealed that lack of funds and the will by governments to continue the project have led to the neglect of the rather laudable project. According to Yaw Ansah, a resident of Afiaman, there has been countless robbery cases in the area. He said the recent incident took place last week Saturday when two young ladies accessing the road from Amasaman to Afiaman were robbed with one being stabbed in the chest. Mr. Ansah said few a weeks ago, there was a similar incident where a nursing mother returning home was robbed of her bag containing an imported medicine from Germany to treat her sick baby. The victim, Cynthia Lomo confirmed the plight of the people and said �the fact is when the police come here during day time they will not see anybody, the criminals normally start operation and smoking around 3:30pm to late night.� She added that about three months ago, one of the robbers who attempted snatching a ladies bag was later identified and was beaten almost to death by the angry mob. �The situation has become unbearable, a week will not pass without someone being robbed but because that is the shortest route people continue to use it,� she said. The Daily Heritage observed that part of the land has been developed into cassava and maize cultivation by the residents who said since government has abandoned the project, they couldn�t leave the land to waste away. Attempts to get some answers from the sports ministry through several calls proved futile. The Ga West Municipal Chief Executive would also not speak to the issue after a visit to the assembly.