The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that efforts are underway to resume work on the abandoned Aboase AstroTurf in the Central Region.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, March 12, 2025, he explained that the AstroTurf was relocated to Aboase after it was discovered that Mamponteng, the initial site for the project, already had one.

According to him, the project, which began in 2024, was stalled due to delays in paying the assigned contractor.

He added that the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, with support from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), financed the procurement of 20 standard AstroTurfs.

“The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council with funding from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), commissioned procurement for 20 normal AstroTurfs. The Kwabri East Municipal Assembly intended to site the project in Mamponteng. However, the site was changed to Aboase in the same municipality, because a similar project was sited at the original site.

"Mr. Speaker, the Kwabri East Municipality was part of the package including the Asante Akim South of Offinso North Municipal Assembly, which was awarded to Acoustic Construction Solutions Limited, totalling an amount of GH¢40,940,962. The projects were expected to be completed in six months. The consultancy firm responsible for the supervision of the project is FedEx Limited,” he said.

He continued “Mr. Speaker, the AstroTurf project commenced in June 2024. Payment of 15% mobilisation was given to the contractor. Work on the project was stalled since September 2024 due to delays in honouring the interim payment certificates by the administrator for the District Assembly Common Fund. The contractor has since left site for non-payment of the IPCs.

Ahmed Ibrahim added that the project is currently 15% complete, and the appropriate authorities are taking steps to review the contract and other processes necessary to ensure progress.

He said, “Currently, the project is about 15% complete. The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council is taking appropriate steps to review the contract and the process to enable the contractor to come to site.”

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