By: Fatou Krubally
Officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the management of the Independence Stadium were summoned to appear before lawmakers following concerns raised during parliamentary oversight visits to government project sites.
The engagement took place after members of the National Assembly’s Select Committee on Monitoring the Implementation of Government Projects were unable to meet stadium officials, contractors or consultants during their visit to the facility.
According to the committee’s report, the officials were later invited to appear before a joint session involving the Monitoring Committee and the Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports at the National Assembly to provide updates on the renovation works.
During the meeting, lawmakers sought clarification on the progress of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Independence Stadium, which has been undergoing renovation works aimed at restoring the facility to acceptable international standards.
Members of the committees also raised questions regarding compliance with international sporting requirements, the supervision of the project and the coordination among the various institutions involved in the implementation of the works.
The discussions further focused on the expected timelines for the completion of the project and the overall schedule for the renovation works.
Officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other stakeholders were requested to submit relevant documents relating to the project to assist the committees in their review.
According to the report, the documents have since been submitted and are currently under examination by the committees.
Lawmakers indicated that the information provided will be reviewed as part of the Assembly’s broader oversight of government development projects.
The committees are expected to incorporate the findings from the submitted documents into a subsequent report on the implementation of government projects across the country.
