Give Me Time to Complete Navrongo Sports Stadium-Minister Begs MP

Following barrels of questions over the abandoned Navrongo Sports Stadium Project, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif has begged Member of Parliament for Navrongo-Central, Hon Sampson Tangombu Chiragia to give him time to complete the project by end of 2023.

According to him, the progress of work on the project has been halted as a result of a lack of funds but begged the Minister for time for the Ministry has secured funds to enable the Contractor to move back to the site by the first week of the second quarter of 2023.

Hon Ussif gave the assurance following a question posed by the MP on the floor of parliament over the delay in the completion of the project.

Hon Chiragia wanted to know from the Ministry when work on the second phase of the Sports Stadium project would be resumed and completed.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Youth and Sports when the second phase of the Youth Resource Centre/Sports Stadium in Navrongo will resume and when work is expected to be completed,” Hon Sampson Chiragia (Navrongo ask the Minister.

In response, the sector Minister said the Youth Resource Centre/ Sports Stadium forms part of the ten (10) regional youth facilities being constructed in the then existing ten (10) regions of Ghana.

He said, the initial plan was to start and complete all ten centres within a year as of 2017, as strenuous efforts were made to ensure that deadlines were met, but due to resource constraints, the Ministry missed the target.

“Rt Hon Speaker, we have had to stagger the projects, especially, the second phase, by considering the completion of five (5) Centres each year, beginning from 2022. I am happy to inform this august house that the second phase of the first selected centres: Axim; Dunkwa- on-Offin; Wa; Dormaa Ahenkro and Koforidua are near completion with the necessary fittings and auxiliary works progressing steadily.

“For this year, 2023, the Youth Centres in Ho, Yendi, Nyinahini, Kaneshie and Navrongo are earmarked for completion. I wish to assure this august house that, the contractors will soon move to the site and the project will be complete by the close of the year,” the Minister told said.

But Hon Chiragia said the Sports Stadium is an important project to the people of Navrongo and the entire Upper East Region as it serves as the sporting activities in the region.

According to him, it is an indicting for the area that produces international soccer men in the like of Abedi Ayew Pele and his children Dede and Jordan and Kwarasey without a befitting sports arena.

He however expressed the hope the Sports Minister would honour the promised to let the Contractor move to the project site and complete work as said in parliament in response to his question.

Hon Chiragia reiterated his commitment to continue work for the interest of the people of Navrongo Central, especially the youth to bring the needed development and to improve their living conditions.