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On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, officially began the 100-day countdown to the 13th African Games in Accra, 2023.
Ghana was chosen to host the African Games in 2018, but due to unanticipated events, plans were thrown off and the event was rescheduled for March 2024.
Everything is almost ready for the Games thanks to the government’s massive investments in the construction of multipurpose facilities in Borteyman, the completion of the University of Ghana Stadium, the renovation of dorms for lodging, and the construction of other supporting facilities close to the University Stadium. The start of the 100-day countdown is considered a significant step in this process.
Dr. Bawumia, who was quite impressed with the facilities, spoke at the launch and emphasized the importance of hosting the game in Ghana after touring both the University of Ghana and Borteyman.
“In its 57 years of existence, the African Games has been organized on twelve (12) occasions by nine (9) different countries. Out of the 9 countries, Algeria, Congo Brazzaville, and Nigeria have each organized and hosted the Games on two occasions,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“However, despite having Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana as founding member of the Games, the question is, why has Ghana not hosted the African Games until now? The answer is simple; there is a time for everything; and this is our time. Ghana is now ready, willing, and capable to organize and host Africa in the biggest sporting competition on the Continent.”
“Sports is now more than just a game. In this regard, the hosting of the 13th African Games goes beyond providing a participatory platform for countries to win medals.”
“Ghana is interested in organizing and hosting the African Games because of its wider cultural, social, health and economic outcomes. Indeed, the Games have the capacity to trigger off a wide range of external benefits, including building social capital, stimulating economic development, facilitating employment opportunities, promoting healthy lifestyles and peaceful coexistence.”
Dr. Bawumia added that the African Games is a major avenue to highlight sports as a means to create jobs for the youth of Africa as well as “offer the opportunity to leverage sports as a tool for comprehensive sustainable socio-cultural and economic development.”
“Indeed, our Government, sees the development, promotion, and organization of sports, especially the African Games as an investment for the future. The construction of modern sports facilities for the African Games is therefore a deliberate effort towards providing additional infrastructural to propel Sport for Development,” he noted.
About 5,000 athletes, 3,000 officials and over 30,000 fans are expected in the country for the Games, which will be held between March 8, 2023, and March 23, 2023.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
