The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Kingsley Agyemang, has officially handed over a newly constructed AstroTurf facility to St. Stephen’s Presby Senior High Technical School to enhance sports development and encourage healthy lifestyles among students and residents.
The modern sports facility is equipped with floodlights, enabling both students and community members to use the pitch for sporting and recreational activities at any time of the day.
Speaking to journalists after the handover ceremony, Dr Agyemang said the project forms part of broader efforts to strengthen physical education and promote preventive healthcare through regular exercise.
He explained that investing in sports infrastructure has become increasingly important as Ghana continues to record rising cases of non-communicable diseases.
Referring to concerns raised during the State of the Nation Address, the MP noted that many deaths in the country are associated with conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, which are often linked to inactive lifestyles.
“Physical education is key and physical activity is very important. The President emphasised that one out of every two deaths in Ghana is linked to non-communicable diseases. We must not wait until people fall sick before we act. Prevention is critical,” he said.
Dr Agyemang stated that although the AstroTurf is located within the school, it is intended to benefit not only students of STEPSS but also residents of the nearby Siakwa community and the broader constituency.
“With the floodlights installed, people can come here at dawn, midnight or late at night to exercise. If anyone wants to see how a 24-hour economy works, they can see it here through sports and physical activity,” he added.
He also emphasised that maintaining the facility will require cooperation between the project’s sponsors and the people who will use it.
“When we hand over facilities like this, it becomes a shared responsibility between those who financed it and those who benefit from it. We do not simply hand it over and walk away. We remain involved to ensure it serves future generations,” he said.
Dr Agyemang further explained that the decision to site the facility within the school compound was intentional to ensure effective supervision and prevent misuse.
“We could have placed it in the town centre, but we intentionally located it in the school so it can be properly managed. I am confident the school authorities will ensure it is used for the right purpose,” he stated.
Receiving the facility on behalf of the school, the headmaster, Edward Asamoah Boateng, expressed gratitude to the MP for what he described as a major investment in sports development at the institution.
According to him, the AstroTurf will significantly improve sporting activities at the school and provide students with a modern facility to develop their talents.
He noted that the school has long required a standard playing surface and that the new facility will strengthen training programmes and participation in inter-school competitions.
Rev. Boateng also assured that the school management will ensure proper care and maintenance of the AstroTurf so it continues to serve both the students and the surrounding community.
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