Overview:
Among the facilities used by Ghana to host the 13th African Games included; Borteyman sports complex, University of Ghana Stadium, University of Ghana Rugby field, Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Theodosia Okoh Hockey stadium, Laboma beach resort, Achimota cricket oval, Ohene Djan sports stadium, Trust sports emporium and Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
In the midst of several challenges and working to beat the toughest of all set deadlines, Ghana managed to host the 13th edition of the African Games between 3rd and 23rd March 2024.
As many as 29 different sporting disciplines were held at 9 different venues in the cities of Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.
Peninah Kabenge, a member of the technical committee of the African Games (TCAG) rates highly the organization of Ghana amidst the short time of preparation.
The technical committee duly served the advisory role to the national organizing committee.
“First of all, I want to thank the Government of Ghana for accepting to host these games despite the late preparations. These games were supposed to be held in 2023 but were pushed ahead to early 2024. Ghana put up new structures like the Borteyman sports complex and renovated many facilities in a record time. By the time of the final inspection in January 2024, almost 90 percent was in place” Kabenge noted.
Opportunities:
Kabenge who was nominated on the TCAG committee by the Association of Africa Sports Confederation pointed to a number of opportunities that arose from Ghana’s hosting of these games.
She hints of the facilities put in place by the Government of Ghana, the visibility of Ghana as a country and the platform for the country to bid for other international sports tournaments as the Africa University Games, the FISU Games and the Olympics.
“The facilities put up in Ghana to host the African Games will remain and help Ghana develop in the different sports activities. The University of Ghana is the biggest beneficiary with the rehabilitated Legon stadium (University of Ghana Stadium), Borteyman sports complex and the games village facilities. Ghana can now bid to host other international sports events. Only maintenance of these facilities needs to be given consideration” she added.
Among the challenges envisaged by Kabenge for Ghana entailed the late start to prepare for the games, limited involvement of local sports federations and associations within Ghana and under-looking of finer details to run these games to their peak.
Kabenge is full of praise for the demonstration games as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Scrabble, Pickleball, Arm Wrestling and other for the brevity exhibited; with the hope of being officially admitted to the 2027 party in Egypt.
She predicts bright times for the African Games in 2027 for Egypt given enough time of preparations.
While Peninah Kabenge praised the Ghana government for successful hosting the 13th African games at short notice despite the difficulties the national communications director of the NDC party, Sammy Ghamfi wrote a letter condemning President Nana Akuffu-Addo and called for the sacking of the sports minister. Shame on you Sammy Ghamfi; Ghana metals haul is 68, the best ever. Congratulations to Ghana athletes.