GNPC Foundation responds to Okudzeto Ablakwa on Cost of Astroturf Projects

The Communications Unit of the GNPC Foundation has rebutted claims and provided clarified to issues of cost surrounding the construction of some 30 Astroturf projects it has carried in some selected regions across the country.

In a release on Wednesday meant to set the records straight, the Foundation assured the public of its continuous commitment to impacting positively on people and communities within GNPC’s production enclave through the implementation of social impact programmes and projects

The release was in reaction to a social media post by the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who alleged this week on his Facebook wall that the cost of construction of Astroturf facilities in selected regions across the        country as captured under the report of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) was fraught with “disparities and    grave inconsistencies”.

According to “the facts” as provided by the communications unit,

“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 96×66 meters. Each facility is equipped with wire fencing and flood lights,” it noted, adding that

“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 5^th, 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.

It stated that Okudzeto Ablakwa’s interpretation of the reported figure of GHS319,813.00 as the unit cost of each Astroturf is factually inaccurate  and misleading, and that 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.

“Indeed, this figure only represents 20% of the total contract sum of GHS1,599,065.00 per facility in 2019-2020. Thus, the GH319,813.00 quoted in the PIAC report represents progress payment based on milestones.”

“The GNPC Foundation 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 as stated above.

The GNPC Foundation accused Okudzeto Ablakwa of failing 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.

“While we assure all Ghanaians that the GNPC Foundation would continue to offer support to Ghanaians across the country, we wish to appeal to the public to be circumspect in the sharing of information received on GNPC Programmes, projects, and activities to avoid causing   needless sensation and public disaffection,” the release further noted.