The multi-purpose youth resource centre in Axim is set to be completed in April 2023, according the project consultants, Ugart Consult.
Work on the facility originally began on April 31, 2018 and was expected to be completed in nine months. However, challenges with funding affected the commencement of the project until after March 2022.
When Asaase Sports visited the facility on Monday, March 20, 2023, the facility was at 83.6% completion stage. The facility currently has a 5,000 seating capacity with VIP box, a 35-seater Presidential box, press box, control room, changing rooms for match officials, wash rooms with five cubicles each while the locker room has 26 lockers for each team.
The facility has an underground water storage facility, built under the north stand ostensibly to supply water to the sprinklers for irrigation purposes.
The centre’s two multi-purpose courts are at different stages of construction. These courts will host basketball, tennis, handball and volleyball events when completed.
The eight lane athletics track is also under construction will be completed by March 25, 2023 according to project consultants, Ugart Consult.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Pious Enam Hadjide has told Asaase Sports, the changes to the original project scope have affected the cost.
“The project scope has changed since the original contract. That essentially means the deliverables change also change. As we speak, we’ve constructed four stands with a 5000 seating capacity, a FIFA standard-sized football pitch with floodlights and hostel and other indoor games” he said.
Pious disclosed that an estimated 18 million Ghana cedis has been invested in the project.
“Facilities like the hostel and the underground water storage were not originally part of the project scope so this will cost more than originally budgeted. At present audit, we have spent close to 18 million Ghana cedis on this project. For the six projects we have spent approximately $11.4 million” he concluded.
