The Member of Parliament for Abetifi and a leading Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Bryan Yaw Acheampong has met with stakeholders to hold a short briefing on the construction of the Nkawkaw Stadium.
The briefing forms part of the MP’s ongoing up – to – date briefing regarding the construction of the stadium.
The MP had earlier indicated in May 24, that the Ghana Football Association and the National Sports Authority officials will visit the facility as well as the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly to officially assess the work done so far.
During a press briefing today, Monday, June 16, Dr. Bryan Acheampong indicated that the briefing was to give a quick brief of what his office has been doing on the stadium in the interest of the stakeholders.
“The idea is to give a quick brief of what we’re doing here on the stadium in the interest of all our stakeholders as we initially suggested. We’ve shared through the media liaison of drawings of what we’re doing here. Largely, as you’re aware, this place was under a contract by the Middle Belt Development Authority but there has been severe delays in the implementation of their contract.
The people of the area are crying for their local teams to play their matches here, and, we decided that we will then support them to quickly finish the pitch and the dressing room so they can play their home matches here while they (NSA) sort out their contractual obligations“, he stated.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong further revealed that the drawings of the facility has been assessed by the National Sports Authority and the GFA and they have made their comments which will be taken on board for further assessment.
“Today, we’re to take you round on what we intended to do to match the drawings to what we’ve started on the ground so that they have a fair idea of what we’re doing. The GFA has seen the drawings a couple of weeks ago and they have made their comment which shall be taken on board, and the sports authority, who are the owners of the property also wants to make sure that – the – issues, something – that you may not be aware -of – but, I’m told the contractor has also raised issues with some of the works going on which the NSA wants to sort out very quickly, that may or may not delay the project a bit but we will also work with them to ensure that whatever issues they have with the contractor are taken out so that the work can continue.
Originally, we’ve scheduled for the completion of the project in four months, taking – advantage of the rains and the boreholes that have been dug around, four months, we’re expected to finish so that in the beginning of the football season – Nkawkaw – people can enjoy their home matches here, but be – as – it – may, we’re going to work with the NSA and the GFA to ensure that we’re in compliance with the rules of the game – and then also the obligations that the NSA has to unwind for the smooth implementation of the program”, he added.
On his side, an official from the NSA, Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere, added that the GFA has already gone through the plan and that they are yet to make any input.
He assured the people of Kwahu that there will be no delay as the four month – completion – date scheduled by Hon. Bryan Acheampong will be fully adhered to.
“As Hon. Bryan Acheampong has already said, the GFA has gone through the plan, and we (NSA) will also assess it today, so my people of Kwahu, there’s going to be no delay, the four months Hon. Bryan said to you, we will make sure after going through everything, we will speed up the work for the continuation of the stadium. I’m even expecting to bring my team here so that we can all enjoy the game here – so nothing is going to delay but for normal procedure, we will just go through the paperwork and then we continue the work. Per all the conversation we’ve had with him (Dr. Bryan Acheampong) today, we’ve all agreed to of all of it.
I will use this opportunity to commend Dr. Bryan Acheampong. It‘s our fervent wish that football will bounce back in Kwahu, for that, we assure you. We haven’t stopped the work, GFA is the main regulator of Ghana football and they are here to inform us what needs to be added to the facility and for us the national sports authority, we’re the owners of the property and it’s our duty to ensure that whatever goes on here aligns with our visions. We cannot stop anyone from developing any facility that will be in favor of the country, we’re only here to ensure that the right things are done”, he affirmed.
In May 24, Dr. Bryan Acheampong inspected the ongoing construction of the Nkawkaw Sports Stadium being undertaken by himself.
The MP provided an overview of the state and progress of work done since its erection on May 12.
The modified project is a FIFA – standard edifice with ancillary facilities such as Tennis and Basketball courts. These facilities were initially not part of the contract but have been included per Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s decision to fix these much – needed add ups to boost other sporting activities.
So far, three areas where the perimeter walls were broken have been fixed. A new FIFA standard rule is that the players must come out from the changing or dressing room directly unto the pitch but with the distance from the initial or old changing room to the pitch is very distant.
It means that the current changing room has to be relocated to the extreme – Eastern side of the pitch. On the right – and – left – behind the goal poles, a one – meter platform will be erected to accommodate one thousand spectators each.
On the Western side of the facility will be the construction of a three – thousand seater bleacher. The facility is a FIFA standard pitch which is 105 meters by 68 meters with 10 – meter allowance for the wall map. The field will be 88 meters by 125 meters with a two – meter gap from the perimeter wall where the spectators are suppose to stand.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong revealed that the facility will cost a lot of money, however a promise made is a promise that has to be kept. He said the project is not just a football park but a center of excellence for the people of Nkawkaw and Kwahu.
“It’s going to be a nice one as you can see on your screen the plan of the new Nkawkaw stadium. It’s gonna cost us a lot of money but a promise made is a Promise that has to be kept.
On this side, we have a bit of land, this is not just supposed to be a football park, it’s a center for a lot of things for the people of Nkawkaw so we intend to put a basketball and tennis courts after the construction of the pitch has been completed to allow for the Great Okwahu United to start playing its home matches here in Kwahu so this is a quick overview. The contractors are here and they have started working, we have a bit of machines that have cleared the place”, he said.
Also in attendance at the briefing today were the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso – Mr. Davis Ansah Opoku (OPK), Immediate – past President of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce – Dr. Clement Osei Amoako, Eastern Regional Chairman for the NPP – Jeffrey Konadu Addo, MCE for Nkawkaw – Mr. Tamimu Halidu, former DCE for Kwahu East – Mr. Isaac Agyapong and some supporting – Assembly Members.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong in November 2024 prior to the general elections promised to assist in the construction of the Nkawkaw Sports Stadium in 2025.
