The media stand of the Accra Sports Stadium has been closed  to allow renovation works to commence.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has officially closed the stands, which has been in a deplorable state for some time now.

The arena has been barricaded preventing any media personnel to be seated during matches beginning with the Ghana Premier League tie between Olympics and Wa All Stars.

Pressmen will hence be relocated to a new section for their duties during matches at the edifice.

The stadium since its refurbishment in 2007 has never seen any maintenance works, a development that has triggered criticisms over how state facilities are maintained in the country.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah has blamed the erstwhile Mills and Mahama administrations for the poor state of the nation’s biggest sports facility, Accra Sports Stadium and promised to get it fixed.

.“The over nine years has seen the stadium in this deplorable state but we are going to fix it. Already I (Isaac Asiamah) have received a structural audit of the stadium and we are going to undertake the renovations in phases,"said the minister  at the 42nd SWAG award night held in June.

"I’m already in touch with stakeholders to close down the part of the stadium that could potentially cause havoc. We will also do face-lifting on the pitch”.

This closure of the media stands could mark  be the beginning of several renovation programs to be carried at the facility which was upgraded as part of Ghana's preparation to host the CAN 2008.

By Fiifi Abdul Malik/ghanaguardian.com