The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation, has debunked claims made by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the cost of Astroturf facilities constructed by the foundation.

According to the foundation, its attention has been drawn to a social media post by Mr Ablakwa, receiving widespread attention “alleging malfeasance in the cost of construction of Astro turf facilities across the country” as captured under Appendix D of the 2021 Annual Report of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). It revealed that the construction of the facilities relates to GNPC Foundation Projects Expenditure submitted to Parliament in fulfilment of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815), as amended by Act 893.

Contained in a statement, GNPC foundation indicated that Mr Ablakwa among other things, alluded to “disparities and grave inconsistencies” in the unit cost of the Astro turf facilities funded by GNPC through its Corporate Social Investment arm, the GNPC Foundation.

“The Foundation 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.”
GNPC Foundation

At the outset of the project in 2018, GNPC Foundation highlighted that the cost of construction of each Astro turf was pegged at $250,000 and in 2019 and 2020, the cost of each facility increased to $300,000, as accurately stated by the Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in his response to Parliament on July 5, 2022.

Currently, it emphasized that the cost per Astro turf facility stands at $350,000 with the incremental costs attributed to rising cost in construction.

“Honourable Okudzeto’s interpretation of the reported figure of GHC319,813.00 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.”
GNPC Foundation

The Foundation expressed that the figure provided figure only represents “20% of the total contract sum of GHS1,599,065.00” per facility in 2019 and 2020. Thus, the GHC319,813.00 quoted in the PIAC report represents progress payment based on milestones.

Relevance of Astroturf facilities

The foundation noted that its 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 Astro turf project, it stated, seeks to help hone existing football and sporting talents across the country.

“GNPC funded Astro turf 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.”
GNPC Foundation

Meanwhile, the Foundation has revealed that it is funding a total of 32 Astro turf facilities across the country at various stages of completion from 2018 with varying costs ranging from GHC997,337.00 to GHC2,366,666,68.00. It assured 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.”
GNPC Foundation