The Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA), has announced plans to complete the abandoned Youth Resource Centres across the country following a comprehensive project assessment.
Launched in 2017, the initiative aimed to construct 10 multipurpose Youth Resource Centres nationwide, providing modern recreational and career development facilities.
However, years later, most of the projects have either stalled or been abandoned, with only two completed and operational.
The Ministry has indicated that it will soon finalize its assessment to facilitate the completion of the remaining eight centres and operationalize the completed ones.
State of Abandoned Centres
The neglect of these facilities has led to significant deterioration:
- Navrongo Youth Resource Centre (Upper East Region): The abandoned facility has been overrun by pests and reptiles. A recent fire caused by overgrown weeds further damaged seating and electrical installations.
- Yendi Youth Resource Centre (Northern Region): Intended to serve the Eastern Corridor, the centre is now abandoned, with stolen or deteriorated fixtures such as chairs, ceilings, and air conditioners.
- Dormaa Ahenkro Youth Resource Centre (Bono Region): Construction remains incomplete, and prolonged exposure to weather has damaged installed seating.
- Volta Region Centre: Work, which began in 2017, was abandoned midway. Though construction resumed briefly in early 2023 for Ghana’s 66th Independence Day celebrations, the facility remains incomplete.
- Axim Youth Resource Centre (Western Region): By 2021, the facility was 90% complete, with seating, a pitch, and tartan tracks installed. However, the contractor abandoned the site, leaving it locked up and deteriorating due to neglect.
Government’s Commitment
The recent restructuring of the Ministry of Youth and Sports into two separate entities—the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment—has raised concerns about the future of these centres.
Addressing these concerns, NYA CEO Osman Abdulai Ayariga reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to ensuring the completion and operationalization of the centres to serve the nation’s youth.
“These facilities are owned by the National Youth Authority, and according to the Industrial Youth Authority Act, the authority has the mandate to own and manage properties to generate internal revenue,” he explained.
The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, reassured the public that the government remains committed to completing the projects for the benefit of young people.
“We intend to complete these projects because they are essential for youth development. Two centres one in the Eastern Region and another in the Upper West Region have already been completed. I have tasked the National Youth Authority to assess the situation and provide a report by next week. Based on their findings, I will engage with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions to secure the necessary resources for completion,”* he stated.
Additionally, Osman Abdulai Ayariga confirmed that the NYA plans to commission new Youth Resource Centers in Ghana’s six newly created regions as part of its broader efforts to enhance youth development.
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