Member of Parliament for New Edubiase Constituency, Abdul Salam Adams has accused the Ministry of Youth and Sports of feigning ignorance of the second New Edubiase Sports Stadium project which has cost the nation almost 2 million Ghana cedis.
The New Edubiase Constituency lacks a decent pitch for sporting activities due to perceived partisan politics in the execution of government projects.
In 2016, Former President John Mahama cut the sod for the construction of a Sports Complex at New Edubiase.
It was supposed to be a sports complex comprising a football pitch with dressing rooms, basketball courts, tennis courts among others.
It was scheduled to be completed by 2017.
According to the MP for the area, Abdul Salam Adams, as at December 2016, the project was about 54% complete.
“Fencing was almost complete, dressing room was at roofing level, washroom was at roofing level . The field was also taking shape ready for the grass to be laid on it.”
However in December 2016 , the National Democratic Congress lost the election, therefore the project suffered from neglect as a result of change of power.
Speaking on Friday Night Football on Starr 103.FM , the New Edubiase MP revealed that the facility which was 54% complete stage cost the nation 1.6 million cedis.
The project was abandoned when the New Patriotic Party took over in 2017.
In November 2018, then MP for the area, George Oduro asked a question in Parliament on the state of the stadium and the progress made.
The then Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah indicated that the funding for the project was a matter of interest for the National security.
In 2020, about 5 months to the election the people of New Edubiase heard the contractor was coming to site, they thought he would continue the existing project which was 54% complete.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, a new site was earmarked and allocated the same contractor to construct a different sports complex altogether.
By November 2020 the 2nd project also stalled.
StarrSports understands that about 2 million cedis has been used so far for the second d project.
” I have waited patiently for this project to be included in the budget ever since I assumed office in January 2021. It has been done now” he said in an interview on Starr 103.5 FM.
“However the 1st quarter of the year is almost ending and nothing has been done yet”, he added.
Abdul Salam Adams expressed his shock at the sheer waste of financial resources.
“It baffles everyone’s mind why the NPP government abandoned the earlier project to start a new one. I don’t want to read meanings into the motives of the government, it hurts. When I think of this project, I get sad” he said.
Abdul Salam Adams also entreated the Sports Minister to do whatever it takes to finish the first project to prevent a waste of the nation’s financial resources.
He revealed that together with the Minority Members on the Youth and Sports Committee, they will officially pay a visit to the 2 facilities to examine the situation on the ground and then decide on what next to do.
Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif earlier indicated last week on the floor of parliament that the contractor had been given up till the end of the month to back to the site. But as to which site the contractor will return, it remains to be seen.
Source:Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/ Eugene Ofori Sottie