By Kingsley Mamore
Dambai (O/R), June 3, GNA – Frustration is mounting among residents, football enthusiasts and youth groups in the Krachi East Municipality as the municipality’s much-publicised astroturf project remains incomplete one year after construction began, despite an initial six-month completion schedule.
The delay has raised concerns about accountability, value for money and the future of youth sports development in the area, with many residents questioning why work on the facility appears to have stalled without any official communication on a revised completion date.
A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the project site at Dambai Lapaz Park showed that while earthworks and sections of the perimeter fencing have been completed, key components of the facility, including the artificial turf, drainage system, floodlights, dressing rooms and spectator stands, remain unfinished.
The project, which was expected to transform football development in the municipality and provide a modern recreational facility for thousands of young people, has now exceeded its contractual completion deadline by six months.
For many young footballers, the delay represents more than an unfinished project. Local football clubs, school teams and colts footballers continue to train and compete on rough and uneven school parks and open grounds, many of which become unsuitable during the rainy season.
Sports stakeholders say the absence of a standard facility is affecting player development and limiting opportunities for talented young athletes to showcase their abilities to scouts and football development programmes.
Some Assembly Members, who spoke to GNA on condition of anonymity, described the situation as disappointing and called for greater transparency regarding the status of the project.
According to them, residents welcomed the commencement of the facility with high expectations and anticipated its completion within the agreed timeframe in June 2025.
“Young people were promised a modern sports facility, but one year on, all they see is an unfinished project,” one Assembly Member remarked.
Mr Daniel Kojo Ligan, a sports journalist in the Oti Region, told GNA that Lapaz Park had historically been the centre of football activities in Dambai.
He said the venue consistently attracted larger crowds than other football grounds, including Banka Park, the Dambai College of Education (DACE) Park and Lakeside Park.
According to him, the suspension of football activities at the venue to pave the way for the astroturf project has significantly affected local sporting activities.
“The facility was expected to open a new chapter for football development in Dambai. Unfortunately, the delay has dampened the enthusiasm of many talented young players who had hoped to benefit from a modern playing environment,” he said.
Mr Razak Mohammed, a professional referee in the municipality, also expressed concern about the impact of the delay on talent development.
He noted that efforts by coaches and sports administrators to organise training programmes for promising young footballers had been hampered by the poor condition of available playing grounds.
“We invited experienced coaches to help train some of the young talents in the municipality, but the poor state of the fields made it difficult to achieve the desired results,” he said.
Mr Mohammed added that although a few players had secured opportunities with lower-division clubs in Accra, many others continued to struggle because of inadequate sporting infrastructure.
“When news of the astroturf project was announced, many of us believed it would create pathways for talented footballers to progress into higher leagues. A quality facility attracts scouts, competitions and investment in youth development. Unfortunately, that expectation has not yet materialised,” he added.
Residents who spoke to GNA observed that several promising footballers had migrated to larger towns and cities in search of better sporting facilities and development opportunities.
Others argued that the delay was depriving the municipality of an important social asset that could serve as a centre for youth engagement, community programmes and sporting events.
Many residents are now calling on the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the National Sports Authority and other relevant authorities to provide clear information on the status of the project and the reasons behind the delay.
Stakeholders are also demanding greater accountability from all parties involved and have urged the authorities to publish a realistic completion timetable to restore public confidence.
Mr Christian Kunde, a youth leader at Dambai New Junction, described the facility as a critical investment in the future of the area’s young people.
“Every additional month of delay is another month of lost opportunities for talented youth. The project was meant to inspire hope, create opportunities, and nurture future stars. Authorities must act urgently to ensure its completion,” he said.
As concerns continue to grow, many residents insist that the unfinished astroturf project has become a test of the commitment to youth development and public infrastructure delivery in the Krachi East Municipality.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Audrey Dekalu