The renovation was supposed to be completed in July
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has abandoned renovation works at the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex at Kaneshie, Ghanaweb can exclusively report.
The GHC 18-million facelift which was launched by the Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah in March 2018 was expected to be completed in July 2019 but has however stalled.
The Kaneshie Sports Complex which was partially functional before the renovation works commenced had received little maintenance by the state since it was built in 1970.
The multi-purpose sports complex serves as a place for unearthing and grooming talents, hosting sporting activities and camping national teams.
Since the opening of the refurbished complex wasn’t forthcoming, Ghanaweb.com visited the site to know why the Sports Ministry had failed to open the complex to the public.
Checks by Ghanaweb.com reveal that workers at the site have abandoned their tools with only one tractor which was used to commission the reconstruction of the complex seated on the main turf. The only physical evidence of any job done is the supporter’s seat which has been raised to a higher level.
However, the pitch has been left in a deplorable state which makes it impossible for any sporting activity to take place. Weeds and thorns have also sprouted on other sides of the pitch.
The edifice when completed is expected to have running tracks, a FIFA standard football pitch, a multipurpose gym, a swimming pool and hostels to House National teams.
In March 2018 when Isaac Asiamah cut-sod for renovation works to commence, the Sports Minister promised that the complex was going to become an edifice for sports development in the country.
However, one year after the minister’s promise, the Kaneshie Sports Complex which is named after Ghanaian world Featherweight champion, Azumah Nelson, has become a pale shadow and a white elephant not worthy of being named after the boxing professor.
If the current Sports Ministry led by Isaac Asiamah fails to renovate the multi-purpose complex, he will join his predecessor, Mustapha Ahmed a former Sports Minister who was unable to fulfil his promise of renovating the arena despite signing an MOU with a UAE company in 2015 to put the place in shape.
