The Essipong Sports Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi is in a deplorable state despite it supposedly undergoing rehabilitation in 2023.
The stadium which has been left to rot, is covered with weeds and one can see paint peeling off from the walls. The gates to the stadium have been rusted with roads leading to the stadium in an equally deplorable state.
There has been a scrutiny into the various stadia across the country, following CAF banning the national team from playing any home games in the country as all pitches do not meet international standards.
With this ban, Ghanaians have demanded for an audit which revealed that despite renovation works having been undertaken on these stadia quite, recently, their current state looks like no such work has ever happened.
Despite payment of GHS6.5million to Kelvin Ofori-Atta’s Cisdan Company Limited for rehabilitation of the Essipong Stadium by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government on 29th December, 2023, the stadium currently does not look like it has ever received a facelift.
This has raised doubt about the work done, with speculations being made against the ruling Akufo-Addo led government for engaging in a politics of family of friends, and the president for being involved in corrupt activities.
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made a post on X about this project.
His post read; “On July 14, 2023, the then Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. John A. Kumah wrote to the Minister for Youth and Sports granting authorization for the rehabilitation of the Essipong Stadium. Intercepted letter is duly attached. The contract was awarded to Cisdan Company Limited. Incorporation documents confirm that Cisdan Company Limited is owned by Kelvin Ofori-Atta, a relative of President Akufo-Addo and former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
By 25th October, 2023, Cisdan had raised an interim payment certificate of GHS6,853,942.80 which was promptly paid. Other massive payments have since been made. Find attached the intercepted agreement between Cisdan and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”
The state of Essipong Sports Stadium as at today despite Kelvin Ofori-Atta receiving GHS6.5million for rehabilitation from the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia govt on 29th December, 2023. pic.twitter.com/XLp6iiNfTA
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) September 15, 2024
