The Ghana Olympic Committee has warned that Ghana could be forced to refund the $100,000 released in 2022 for the stalled OlympAfrica community sports project at Amasaman if construction does not resume by the end of June.
GOC President Richard Akpokavie raised the concern at the Committee’s Annual General Assembly on Saturday, May 16, in Accra.
He said a committee chaired by Deputy Treasurer Nii Lante Bannerman has been tasked with ensuring that work resumes on the project within the stipulated timeline.
“This project has stalled for some time, and the Olympafrica Secretariat has expressed concern over the delays. Following engagements with the Executive Director, the plan is to resume construction by the end of June; otherwise, we may be required to refund the $100,000 disbursed to us in 2022”, he said.
He added that the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has pledged support toward the completion of the project.
“It is important to note that the Minister responsible for Sports and Recreation has also pledged the Ministry’s support toward completing the project. The Executive Director of Olympafrica is expected to visit Ghana in June for further discussions on the completion of the project”.
The OlympAfrica Project, officially named the GOC/OlympAfrica community sports development project, is intended to serve as a sports development centre for young athletes in Ghana, particularly in the Amasaman community. The facility is expected to include football, basketball, volleyball and tennis facilities, alongside running tracks.
The project has faced several setbacks over the years. Funding for the initiative was previously halted in 2005 over accountability and transparency concerns before Ghana was later readmitted into the OlympAfrica programme in 2020.
In 2022, the International OlympAfrica Foundation, together with the IOC and ANOCA, released $100,000 to support the commencement of construction after the Ghana Olympic Committee secured full ownership of a 16.5 acre land at Amasaman for the project.
