By The government of Ghana has received counsel to contemplate ending the contract between the National Youth Authority and New Case Construction Limited, responsible for building the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex.
According to reports from the government’s Entity Tender Committee, various contract breaches were uncovered by New Case Construction Limited during the latest audit.
In an exclusive interview with JoySports, Pius Enam Hadzide, the Chief Executive Officer of the NYA, mentioned that the Authority is deliberating on the recommendation.
”The Entity Tender Committee at its last meeting, advised that we consider the termination of the agreement because the contractor has no done some of the works that we believe should have been done by now.”
The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex, along with all ten Youth Resource Centers nationwide, was initially slated for completion within nine months of commissioning.
In August 2020, the project engineer, Paul Atanga, stated that the facility had reached 78% completion.
”We are 78% through with the work. When we started this work, there were unforeseen circumstances that we met, and as engineers when we meet a problem, we solve them before moving on.
”There is a drain that passes through the facility that discharges water from the Kaneshie township all the way to Odawna. It was passing through our VIP area, so we had to divert it so we don’t flood the industrial area.
”So that has been cleared. We are confident that we will finish the remaining 22% in the next few months, he told reporters during a site inspection.
However, work stalled on the project shortly after, following government’s inability to pay contractors working on all ten Youth Resource Centers.
The NYA contends that it does not owe New Case Construction Limited, who are responsible for the project.
”So we are considering the termination (of the contract with New Case Construction Limited). And no, we do not owe them.”
Meanwhile, construction on the nine remaining facilities has halted due to insufficient funds.
Since July 2022, the District Assembly’s Common Fund has withheld funds from the NYA, making it challenging to finance the project. The NYA primarily relies on 5% of the District Assembly’s Common Fund for funding.
The $4 million facility is projected to include an ICT Center, tennis and basketball courts, a FIFA-standard-sized pitch with a seating capacity of 5,000 spectators, and boxing gyms.
