The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)
Foundation says the repored figure of its Astroturf projects by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa are inaccurate and misleading.
According to GNPC, the public should rubbish such allegations by the MP.
In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, it said "Honourable Okudzeto’s interpretation of the reported figure of GHS319,813.00 as the unit cost of each Astroturf is factually inaccurate and misleading. The figure as contained in the 2021 PIAC Report represents how much had been expended on each project as at the reporting time rather than the total cost per Astroturf facility"
The statement also added that indeed, the figure only represents 20% of the total contract sum of GHS1,599,065.00 per facility in 2019-2020.
It further explained that the GH319,813.00 quoted in the PIAC report represents progress payment based on milestones.
The GNPC Foundation noted that it is funding a total of 32 Astroturf facilities across the country at various stages of completion from 2018 with varying costs ranging from 997,337.00 – 2,366,666,68.00.
"From the details shared above, it is evident Honourable Okudzeto Ablakwa in his social media publication failed to appreciate and understand the PIAC report in its entirety as one detailing expenditure on projects within the calendar year rather than one on total cost of the project"
"Honourable Okudzeto, among other things, alluded to “disparities and grave inconsistencies” in the unit cost of the Astroturf facilities funded by GNPC through its Corporate Social Investment arm, the GNPC Foundation"
The Foundation says it wishes to set the records straight and to assure the public of its commitment to impacting positively on people and communities within GNPC’s production enclave and across the country through the implementation of social impact programmes and projects.
Background
The GNPC Foundation’s Sports Infrastructure Project began in 2018 with the aim to improve the standards of sports infrastructure in local communities to harness sporting talents of which football remains a critical agent.
The Astroturf project seeks to help hone existing football and sporting talents across the country.
GNPC funded Astroturf facilities are constructed with FIFA quality approved materials and are set to FIFA specifications with pitch dimensions of 96x66 meters.
Each facility is equipped with wire fencing and flood lights.
At the outset of the project in 2018, the cost of construction of each Astroturf was pegged at $250,000 (GHS997,337.00). In 2019 and 2020, the cost of each facility increased to $300,000 (GHS1,599, 065.00) as accurately stated by the Minister of Energy, Honourable Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in his response to Parliament on July 5th, 2022.
Currently, the cost per Astroturf facility stands at $350,000 (GHS2,366,666.68) with the incremental costs attributed to rising cost in construction.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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