Hockey: Ghana owes Edel Grass €73,000

The vice president of the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA), James Amoo-Gottfried, says efforts to rehabilitate damaged portions of the Theodosiah Okoh Hockey pitch have been hampered by a 73,000-euros debt owed to Netherlands-based pitch manufacturers, Edel Grass.

According to Mr Amoo-Gottfried, the debt arose from tax exemptions which were not granted to the pitch-makers for earlier repair works done on the artificial surface of the national hockey stadium.

He said,"The area around the ‘D’ is worn out. This is not the first time that area has been damaged. It happened last time and we got the manufacturers to aid us fix it.

"However, this time around we have some outstanding issues that have not been resolved. When they first repaired the pitch, they lost some money in  form of tax refunds and these monies have still not been given to them because of some administrative issues," he added.

Mr Amoo Gottfried, noted that the contract for the initial repair works was tax exempt, however, Edel Grass were levied taxes which had still not been refunded.

He stressed: "We owe them, that is why we have been unable to call them. We owe 73,000 euros arising from tax that was levied on their contract which was supposed to be tax exempt but there are other administrative issues. Not until that is resolved, government cannot release the money for them but it has kept long."

He also disclosed that the latest repair works on the national hockey pitch would cost 15,000 euros, adding that the National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Youth and Sports were aware of the current impasse between the GHA and Edel Grass.