Ex Sports Minister Nyelenkeh Breaks Silence on $40M Stadium Deal, Predicts Completion Date

Former Sports Minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh has defended his role in the forty-million-dollar renovation of the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

He spoke in a media interview on Sunday, as questions continue over the stadium’s delayed completion.

Nyelenkeh said the original contract was worth thirty-two million dollars.

He said he then asked the Chinese ambassador to include spectator seating, which raised the value to forty million.

He said he consulted the Attorney General, his permanent secretary and engineers from the Ministry of Works.

He also claimed he tried to have the project’s spending audited while in office, but was turned down. He gave no documents to support that claim.

He said he has no regrets about signing the agreement.

Nyelenkeh predicts the stadium will be ready by June twenty twenty-seven. That is his own forecast, not an official deadline.

The China-funded project began in February twenty twenty-two.

In July, the National Sports Authority said plastic seats were still needed before the stadium could host international matches.

Meanwhile, the national team has been playing its home fixtures abroad.