On September 4, 2020, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, together with Asamoah Gyan among other members in the sporting fraternity unveiled a new AstroTurf at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
It was during this short ceremony that Akufo-Addo showed just how good he is at kicking the ball.
He picked a pass from ex-Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, and then with all finesse, hit the ball to mark the opening of the new pitch for the tertiary institution.
The facility, constructed at the cost of nearly 4 million Ghana Cedis from the university’s Internally Generated Funds, comes with a FIFA standard pitch, 5,000 seating capacity, floodlights, changing rooms, and offices for the school’s sports directorate.
Akufo-Addo said the project formed part of the government’s efforts to improve sports infrastructure across the country.
“The government, through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is committed to promoting sports in our schools and is fully supporting corporate initiatives in this directive.
“The provision of the requisite infrastructure to this end is critical if our nation is to regain its enviable place in sports on the continent and in the world,” he said.
The contractors for the UPSA AstroTurf are Wembley Sports construction and their CEO, Robert Coleman, said the project is the best AstroTurf they have produced.
“This is the first time we have a project like this for a university and it is unique. When you look at the spectator stand, the architecture is different, the floodlight is an improved version of what we have done.
“We have decided to put sprinklers under the turf so that the resilience of the ball can be enhanced,” Coleman said.
Watch the video of the President’s kick here:
