| Upper East Region|
A volleyball court constructed at a cost of GH¢213,490 in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region has reportedly remained unused for more than two years after young people in the community rejected the facility.
The development was revealed in an investigative report by The Fourth Estate, authored by journalist Moses Apiah, published on September 14, 2026. ([The Fourth Estate][1])
According to the investigation, the facility was constructed in 2024 under the World Bank-funded Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project, which seeks to support infrastructure and social cohesion initiatives in northern Ghana. ([The Fourth Estate][1])
However, some young people in Bongo say they were not adequately consulted before the project was undertaken. They argue that the funds could have been invested in improving the existing community football park, which they say attracts young people on a regular basis.
Twenty-three-year-old Godwin Akurubire, a resident of Bongo, questioned the decision to invest in volleyball when the sport has little following in the community.
“There are no volleyball players in Bongo,” he said, arguing that the money should instead have been used to improve the community football park.
Another resident, Rodney Aduko, also questioned the usefulness of the facility, saying young people continue to patronise the football park while the volleyball court remains largely unused. ([The Fourth Estate][1])
The concerns extend beyond the court’s usage. Mba Asampana, Assembly Member for the Bongo-Atampiisi Electoral Area where the facility is located, reportedly described the project as a “deathtrap and a waste of state resources” and questioned its safety. He also claimed that assembly members were not consulted before the project was approved. ([The Fourth Estate][1])
Project cost and missing urinal
Documents cited by The Fourth Estate indicate that the GH¢213,490 project was originally expected to include a urinal. Assembly officials, however, explained that the amount allocated for the project was insufficient to construct the additional facility. ([The Fourth Estate][1])
The Bongo District Planning Officer, Kugoriba Thomas, defended the decision to construct the volleyball court, explaining that the project was intended to provide inclusive recreational opportunities for young people and help keep them away from social problems.
Safety concerns raised
Questions have also been raised about the design and safety of the court.
Abdul-Rahman Danladi, head coach of Ghana’s senior women’s national indoor volleyball team, told The Fourth Estate that the elevated and narrow nature of the court could pose risks to players.
He suggested that the area around the court should be expanded or modified to reduce the possibility of players falling from the elevated platform while chasing the ball. ([The Fourth Estate][1])
The situation has therefore renewed questions about community consultation, project selection and value for money in the implementation of development projects, particularly when public funds are committed to facilities that their intended beneficiaries are reluctant to use.
*Source: The Fourth Estate | Report by Moses Apiah| Also Mybluewavesonline.Com|Maurice Duncan
