The construction work on the facility, which includes a FIFA standard pitch, ICT centre, basketball and handball courts, eight-lane tartan tracks, a multi-purpose sports hall and a restaurant, offices, changing rooms, youth counselling room, as well as trophy rooms, has virtually come to a standstill.

The contract was awarded to Messrs Daacco Limited in May, 2018, and was scheduled to be completed in June this year.

However, two years down the line, the $1.8 million project is about 65 per cent complete, creating anxiety for the NYA officials.

Slow pace of work

Briefing journalists after a tour of the facility to assess the progress of work, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NYA, Mr Sylvester Mensah Tetteh, said his outfit was scandalised and disappointed about the slow pace of work on the project.

Consultant to be summoned

He said the authority was not indebted to the contractor, hence he would summon the consultant, Mr Joe Hackman, to Accra to explain reasons for the delay of the project.

“Let me place on record that the authority is not owing any contractor. We expect the work to get to a certain stage; this is 60-65 per cent complete but we want to see 90-95 per cent work done at this stage.

“I’m particularly not happy and I’m not sure anybody in the team here is happy with the level of work. I don’t know what to say; I’m here with the board chair, board members. When we go back to Accra, we will take a firm decision,” the livid NYA CEO lamented.

“This is the first phase of the project; there is an unintended second phase that is supposed to start in June. The site looks like an abandoned site.”

He, however, gave a firm assurance to the public that work on the Koforidua Sports Stadium would be completed on time before the end of June this year, despite the delay by the contractor.

Board Chairperson’s remarks

For her part, the Board Chairperson of the NYA, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre East, Mrs Francisca Oteng Mensah, said she was not satisfied with the kind of work done so far.

According to her, she expected to see about 80-90 per cent of work done at this stage so that the phase two could also start on schedule.

“What I have come to see today, I doubt whether the contractor will be able to complete the work before June. The contractor is supposed to hand over work in June; I expect more work to be done to guarantee the project‘s successful completion within the stipulated time frame.

“The board will definitely take a decision based on our own findings. We definitely want to meet our timeline,” Mrs Mensah indicated.

Contractor’s response

The Project Manager of Messrs Daacco Limited, Mr William Darko Mensah, explained that certificates had been raised from January to April ending but he had not received any payment yet, making it difficult for him to execute the work within the stipulated time.

“At this stage, I can’t put up a defence since the consultant of the project, Mr Joe Kingsley Hackman, is not available at the site. I have worked up to January and raised certificates and still not being paid so how do I work if I’m not having money.

“It is not my intention to make the project delay. You should have appreciated what I have done as a contractor. My biggest challenge is raising certificates from January to April ending and still not being paid. There is a missing link between the consultant, the authority and the contractor which I want us to look at and address amicably,” Mr Mensah revealed.