Axim youth want stalled sports stadium project completed

Some concerned youth at Axim in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, have called on authorities to take urgent steps to complete works on the 5,000-seater sports stadium for them.

The youth, many of whom are sports talents and fitness enthusiasts, said they had been left without any recreational grounds for years due to the demolition of the two key parks in the municipality, Victoria, and Red parks for reconstruction during the erstwhile New Patriotic Party government.

Mr Bright Jappah Assuah, a convenor of the group, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, said the Victoria Park was a central hub for sports ceremonies and social events, while Red Park served as the main venue for football matches, training sessions, and other youth-centred activities.

He said both parks were razed in 2018 to pave way for the construction of the 5,000-seater stadium and a new ceremonial ground.
However, nearly seven years later, the stadium remained incomplete and inaccessible to the public.

According to him, the lack of a playing field had stifled sports development in the area, saying, many young talents had been forced to abandon their ambitions due to a lack of training space.

Mr Assuah said: “This is not just about football, it is about our lives, our dreams, and our mental well-being.

“We have been patient for too long. You can’t demolish our only parks, promise a new stadium, and then abandon the project.”

He called on the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, and other relevant authorities to expedite processes for work to resume on the stadium to ensure timely completion.

Mr Raphael Eshun, a resident of Axim, expressed similar sentiments and said: “In a town of such historical and cultural significance, it is shameful and unacceptable that young people have to travel to nearby towns like Nsein and Asanta just to train or play a friendly match.

“We are calling on the government to come and complete the stadium, if not we will enter the premises ourselves and begin using it.”