The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, has called on the Chinese contractor, GCIGC Group, to expedite work on the renovation of Sierra Leone’s National Stadium, citing financial and operational strains caused by the project’s delay.

Dr. Abdulai’s remarks came during an NSA-led site inspection on Friday, where he emphasized the economic impact of incomplete facilities.

“Government is spending millions of dollars each time we go out to play our home matches, and that is huge,” Dr. Abdulai said, stressing the need for a prompt resolution. The NSA, he noted, aims to utilize the facility as a revenue-generating venue, benefiting both the government and the people of Sierra Leone.

During the visit, Dr. Abdulai toured the ongoing renovations, inspecting key areas such as the main bowl, the pavilion at the basketball court, restrooms, and the perimeter fence. He recommended upgrades to the dressing room to meet FIFA standards, adding that improvements to spectator areas would enhance the stadium’s appeal.

Responding to Dr. Abdulai’s concerns, Chinese engineers from GCIGC Group attributed some delays to new government requests, including the installation of plastic seating. Despite the setbacks, they assured officials that 70 percent of the project would be completed by the end of November, signaling progress towards eventual project completion.