The Director General of the National Lottery Authority and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Akuapim South constituency in the Eastern Region, Sammi Awuku, has officially inaugurated the reconstruction of the Mampong Coronation Park.

The renovated facility will feature a FIFA-standard football pitch measuring 96 by 66 meters, along with 400 spectator seats and designated VIP areas for prominent guests, including traditional leaders.

The upgraded park will also include dressing rooms for both home and visiting teams. To facilitate evening matches, four large floodlights will be positioned at each corner of the pitch, and the entire area will be enclosed with panel mesh fencing to enhance security and restrict unauthorized access.

The project, with an estimated cost of around four million Ghana cedis, is anticipated to be completed within three months.

After the ceremony on Thursday, July 25, 2024, Sammi Awuku told reporters that the reconstruction was initiated at the request of local traditional leaders to modernize the facility and enhance recreational options for the Mampong community.

He also encouraged the contractor to stick to the project timeline.

Historically, the Mampong and Sunyani Coronation Parks are among the few football pitches established by Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, in district capitals to foster football development.

The Okyeame of Mampong noted that the Mampong Coronation Park was used as a training ground for the Black Stars and was the last pitch they trained on before their victory in the 1982 African Cup of Nations.