Construction of Amphitheaters Stalled Due to Lack of Funds – Deputy Tourism Minister

Deputy Tourism Minister Mark Okraku Mantey has acknowledged that the construction of five amphitheaters promised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has stalled due to financial constraints. The project, which was largely funded by the World Bank, has been delayed after exhausting its initial budget, Mantey disclosed during the Creative Arts Manifesto Debate on Joy FM.

“The construction mainly revolves around budget issues because it’s funded by the World Bank. We’re waiting for additional funding to complete it, which has been delayed,” Mantey explained.

He further stated that the government has sought supplementary funding from Parliament to ensure the project’s completion. According to him, the initial allocation of $500,000 per facility was insufficient due to rising market prices, which inflated the overall project cost.

“The budget increased due to market prices, which impacted our timeline for completing the amphitheaters. We’ve requested additional funds, and once approved—hopefully within two weeks—we’ll resume work on-site,” Mantey said.

The Deputy Minister also mentioned that the Minister of Tourism and Culture had recently defended the funding request in Parliament, and the project is now expected to be finished by the first quarter of 2025.

“Although we hoped to complete it before December, the realistic timeline now is early next year,” he added.

Source:thehighstreetjournal.com