The Minister for Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah has cut sod for the construction of a multi-purpose complex and youth center at Axim in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region. The sod-cutting exercise follows similar events which had already taken place in Ho and Koforidua where work is progressing swiftly.

The GHC6 million facility forms part of the NPP government's efforts to provide Ghanaian youth with opportunities to develop their talents. The facility, which is being executed by the Bismarth Obobi Construction Works will comprise a FIFA standard football pitch, an eight-lane athletic track, a tennis court, a basketball court, a handball court, a gymnasium, a counselling centre, youth ICT centre, entrepreneurship centre and a state of the art restaurant.

Speaking at the sod-cutting exercise on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Axim Red Park, the Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah expressed his profound appreciation to the good people of Nzema East Municipality for the overwhelming support given to the NPP government for this facility to see the light of the day.

He also thanked the Member of Parliament of the area, Mrs. Catherine Afeku for supporting the government for this project and charged the people to rally behind her. He said the project forms part of government's efforts to provide multi-purpose youth centres in Ghana across the ten Regions.

"Axim is blessed to have this edifice which will serve the whole Western Region", he emphasized. According to him, the facility begins immediately and is expected to be completed in nine (9) months. He added that, "The government is committed to the development of the youth in particular and sports in general to ensure equal opportunities for all." "We are committed to ensuring that an international standard sporting facility is put up here so that one day the Black Stars can train and play friendly matches with the Green Eagles of Nigeria here," he added.

He urged the people to embrace the project and support the contractor to complete the work on schedule. The Member of Parliament for the area who doubles as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku thanked the Youth and Sports Ministry for responding to their calls.

She used the occasion to express her profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for always thinking about her area and called on her constituents to rally behind the NPP government. "Let us rally behind President Akufo-Addo and his government and also pray hard for President Akufo-Addo for wisdom and long life and develop our area", she pleaded.

Mrs. Afeku cautioned that though the facility when completed, would not only serve the entire Western Region but also the three Nzema Constituencies namely; Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira, Ellembelle and Jomoro. She assured her constituents that the facility is just a tip of the iceberg and added that more developmental projects are in the pipeline

"I want to assure with the able leadership of President Akufo-Addo more projects are coming and very soon the Axim sea defence wall will commence, construction of Axim township roads, next week we are going employ 350 unemployed youth into the Nation Builder Corps (NABCO) program and others. On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the area, Hon. Frank Okpeyen alias Franko also expressed profound appreciation to the NPP government for bringing this great facility to Axim which will help to develop the area.

He used the occasion to thank the chiefs and people of the area for releasing land for the construction this facility. He disclosed that the project is going to create job opportunities for the skilled and unskilled youth in the area before and after construction.

He pledged his total commitment to liaise with the contractor to complete the project on time as expected. The MCE also used the ceremony to thank the Member of Parliament for the area, Mrs Catherine Afeku for lobbying for this great edifice to come to Axim.

"I thank my MP for lobbying for this great facility to be established at Axim and I will continue to work with her and develop Nzema East Municipality. He added that the project if completed will help football teams in the Nzemaland and therefore appealed to the people of Nzemaland to rally behind the project to be completed fast and also support President Akufo-Addo to develop the areas.

He used the occasion to commend Karela FC for being the first team to qualify to play in Ghana's Premier league and called on the good people of Nzemaland to support the team to put up their best performance in the league.