Some sportsmen and women want Youth And Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah to immediately intervene to salvage the National Sports College in Winneba in the Central Region from collapse.
This comes in the wake of the environmental and sanitation hazards some portions of the College is.
Winneba residents including students and sports heroes expressed worry about the tennis court, which has thick weeds taking over it.
They said clearing of weeds has not been done in a long time.
Some students of the College who spoke on anonymity observed that the tennis court, which is frequently used by a number of the people including the head of the College, was not in the best of books so far as sanitation is concerned.
“The whole portion of the tennis court is almost fully taken over by weeds. Last week on my way for jogging, I saw snake coming from the bush around there,” one young lady told 3news.com.
Another also maintained that due to the weeds, interest to try her hands on tennis is diminishing and called for the appropriate authorities to immediately have the weeds cleared.
Residents who have created a thoroughfare close to the guest house of the country’s foremost sport college, also expressed disgust at the stench that emanates from stagnant water.
According to them, they suspect a sewer system of either the guest house or the hostel close is partly damaged and therefore some liquid waste from it gives a very unpleasant smell, which they fear could also result in an outbreak of an epidemic.
“In fact it’s really an uncomfortable thing to do sometimes when using that route especially when you are not lucky and you meet a vehicle at the spot close to the Sports College guest house because that vehicle could splash that smelly water on you. I am very careful when crossing that path,” Ivan, an alumnus and a resident of Winneba, revealed.
Asked about how the issues of the College could be addressed, some who spoke to 3news.com suggested that there should be a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to allow the University of Education, Winneba to take over or adopt the Sport College to help in maintaining it.
“I am of the opinion that since this facility is situated on virtually lands of the UEW, it will be prudent it takes over and help in maintaining it because it looks like the Sports College lacks funding to keep and maintain this facility and the Sports Minister has to make it a priority to intervene immediately,” Ivan added.
By Thomas Vincent Cann|3news.com|Ghana