Directions At Essipon In Chinese

Story by Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu
& Ruth Assabil

Chinese inscriptions at the Essipon Stadium intended to give directions to spectators are likely to create confusion as the Chinese language can not be read or understood.

The directions, showing the emergency exits, are in the Chinese and English languages only. The inscriptions in Chinese are much bolder than the one in English when the contractors are aware that the Chinese have no match to play in Ghana, Essipon and Tamale specifically.

This is likely to affect communication for those coming from the Francophone countries, as observed when pressmen accompanied the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Professor Dominic Fobih, on a tour of the stadium.

Many people the Graphic Sports spoke to said much as the contractors were from China and wanted to project the image of their country, they should not have forgotten the fact that they were constructing the stadium for Francophone and Anglophone countries.
 
Some were of the view that the writings should be done in English, French, Ewe and Fante so that those from Togo read Ewe and Ivorians can also read French. They gave as an example, various meeting points in Europe where you have the directions written in French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and German.

When contacted, the consultant, Mr Kwabena Boadi-Aboagye, said the issue would be looked at and addressed.

He said, they are working hard to meet the deadline for the completion of the external works which comprise a fence wall, pavement within the evacuation square, access road, the perimeter around the stadium, external electricals, among others.
 
Though impressed with work done so far, Prof. Fobih warned external contract workers that the Ministry would not sacrifice the interest of the nation.

Prof Fobih told them that the Western Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would be monitoring their work closely to ensure that work was completed within the stipulated time.

The minister also toured places designated for training pitches to ascertain at first hand, the progress of work.
He commended the Chinese contractors for executing the project on scehdule.

Mr Boadi-Aboagye told the Minister and his entourage that about 60 per cent of the work was completed and promised, “we will do everything humanely possible to ensure that the work is completed by the end of September.”

He also announced that there would be one main access road from the junction to the stadium.

Asked if one access road would be enough for a big tournament like the CAN 2008 which is expected to host spectators from nations and their supporters, he replied in the affirmative, saying the number of access roads would be determined by the number of vehicles that would be making the trip to the stadium.

“Since there would be a five-hundred capacity car park for the public which would be located outside the stadium, there would be no problem”.

Shanghai Group, the contractors said work on the stadium itself has been completed except for tidying up the place and painting parts of the building that had been dirtied.