The overlord of the Telensi Traditional area Tongo – Raana Naab Kugbil Namaltang has commissioned the Kurt Okraku Winkogo Technical Centre at Winkogo in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

The Commissioning took place at Winkogo, near Bolgatanaga on Friday, June 23, 2023. President of the Ghana Football Association Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, Vice President Mark Addo and Chairman of the Upper East Regional Football Association Alhaji Salifu Zida were all present at the event.

Others included Executive Council Members George Amoako, Nana Sarfo Oduro, Habiba Atta Forson, Kingsley Osei Bonsu, Linford Asamoah Boadu and Samuel Anim Addo.

Upper East Regional Hon. Stephen Yakubu who was the special guest of honour praised the leadership of the Ghana Football Association for the singular decision to site the project in the Region.

‘’I wish to express our profound appreciation to FIFA through the Ghana Football Association for this magnificent project. The significance of this project in this region and the country at large cannot be underestimated” regional Minister Hon. Stephen Yakubu said.

‘’Sporting activities apart from its health benefits also fosters unity among communities and countries and ultimately business ventures both locally and internationally. In this region we can boats of former international football players”.

‘’As we all know Abedi Pele who through football became an international icon, similarly his children Dede (Andre Ayew) and Jordan have also taken to football and we all know who they are. We can equally pride ourselves with footballers of Northern descents such as Abdul Majeed Waris, Mohammed Kudus, Sulley Muntari, Osman Bukari, Baba Abdul Rahman amongst others’’.

‘’These footballers have big investments that have provided employment to the youth of this country’’ the Hon. Minister added.

The Minister of Youth and Sports was represented by the Head of Policy, Alhaji Saanie Adams as the headsmaster of the Bolgatanga Senior High School Afelibiek Ababu – was on hand to reprsent the school having donated that parcel of land for the Winkogo project.

The event was also attended the Chairmen of the 10 Regional Football Associations. They included, Samuel Aboabire (Greater Accra), Simon Ehomah (Western Region), Linford Asamoah (Eastern Region), Abu Hassan Rhyzzo (Northern Region), Yahaya Sadugu (Upper West), Robert Duncan (Central Region) and Alhaji Salifu Zida (Upper East Region).

It will be recalled that the Ghana Football Association on Wednesday, August 05, 2020, secured the land Winkogo, for the construction of an AstroTurf following the decision of the Executive Council to use part of the project funds from the FIFA Forward 1.0 program for the construction of two Astro Turfs – one at Prampram and the other one at Winkogo, in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

The facility will serve the people of Winkogo and its environs and will help solve the huge sports infrastructure deficit the region has been facing over the years.

The first phase of the project include the artificial pitch, floodlights, Generator set to power the lights, an inner perimeter, fencing around the entire parcel of land, two technical team benches and two movable goalposts.

The second phase is expected to house the head office of the Upper East Regional Football Association, dressing rooms, spectator stands and a FIFA standard artificial football turf capable of hosting all matches, including elite domestic competitions.

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