By Saul Paul
There are emerging claims that an amount of Gh85m Cedis allocated to revamp three already existing sports stadia have been spent with no proof to show for work done, unconfirmed report alleged.
Following the recent CAF ruling deeming the Baba Yara Stadium unsuitable for hosting international matches, it has come to light that the deterioration of Ghanaian stadiums was not a result of neglect.
The report indicate that prior to CAF’s decision, the Accra Sports Stadium, Essipong Stadium, and the Baba Yara Stadium were slated for renovation.
Shockingly, it was revealed that the Akufo-Addo administration had allocated a substantial sum of GHC85 million for this purpose.
Concerns arose when it was discovered that despite receiving the funds, the appointed contractors had made negligible progress on the stadium renovations.
Notably, one of the recipients of these funds was identified as Kelvin Ofori-Atta, a relative of President Akufo-Addo. Ofori-Atta’s companies, Cisdan Company Limited and CoupBay Ghana Limited, were awarded a substantial GHC64.3 million contract to upgrade the Essipong and Accra sports stadiums.
Documents revealed by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, outlined the financial transactions and contracts linked to these companies. Additionally, revelations detailed that another contractor, Arhin Ladies, was awarded GHC21.1 million to refurbish the Baba Yara Stadium.
Despite these considerable investments, CAF’s recent decision to disapprove the Baba Yara Stadium for international matches raises questions about the efficacy of these renovation projects.
CAF’s verdict, following Ghana’s match with Angola, highlighted concerns regarding the stadium’s infrastructure and maintenance.
Furthermore, the letter referenced ongoing challenges at other key venues in Ghana, such as the Cape Coast Stadium and Accra Sports Stadium.
In response to the CAF decision, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been tasked with identifying alternative venues outside the country for upcoming AFCON qualifiers, as no other CAF-approved Category 3 stadium is currently available in Ghana.