The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has given his assurance that all infrastructure required for the 13th African Games – Accra 2023 will be completed and handed over by December 2023, well ahead of the games scheduled for March 8-23, 2024.
According to the Minister, the sporting infrastructure located at Borteyman and the University of Ghana, which will be used to host the games, will undergo testing in the months of January and February 2024 before the opening ceremony on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Borteyman stadium.
To meet the infrastructure demands and due to delays in the planning process and cost considerations, the organizers have engaged three Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractors and adopted a hybrid model.
The ongoing construction of the $145 Million Borteyman Sports Complex includes a 1,000-Seater Competition Swimming Pool with ten lanes, an eight-lane warm-up Swimming Pool, and a 1,000-seater Multi-Purpose Sports Hall for games such as basketball, table tennis, boxing, and badminton.
The facility will also include a 500-seater temporary dome for handball, volleyball, and judo; five tennis courts; a six-lane Athletic Track with benches for coaches and athletes; one International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Standard Football Training Field; a space for Children’s Playground, an administration building, and the necessary equipment and furniture.
Providing an update on Ghana’s preparations towards hosting the Games yesterday at a press briefing today in Accra, Mr. Yussif said the main objectives of organizing the games include improving sports infrastructure in Ghana and positioning Accra as a sports hub in West Africa.
He added that the Games also aim to contribute to Ghana’s transformational agenda and align with the African Union Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want.”
The Minister projected that the Games will garner a global television and online viewing audience of 2.5 billion during the two-week period, boosting Ghana’s economy through foreign exchange generated from guests and athletic teams visiting the country.
The Games will feature a total of 22 sports disciplines Among these, seven sporting disciplines namely; Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, and Wrestling will serve as Olympic qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, while the remaining 15 will be Non-Olympic Qualifiers. The 15 sports are Armwrestling, athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate Do, Rugby, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Basketball (3×3( and Taekwondo).
Additionally, five sports disciplines (E-Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, Speedball, Sambo, Teqball, Scrabble and Pickleball) will be showcased as demonstration sports during the event.
The Minister also commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his pivotal role in resolving the long-standing impasse between the African Union, the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOCA), and the Association of African Sports Confederation (AASC). He said the signing of the Negotiated Agreement on the Management and Organization of the African Games on February 19, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marked a significant milestone in the planning process.
To ensure a successful organization of the games, a Technical Committee has been established, chaired by Her Excellency Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development of the African Union. Vice-Chairpersons include Mr. Mustapha Berraf, the President of ANOCA, and Major General Nasser, the President of AASC.
Her Excellency Cessouma expressed gratitude to the government of Ghana for its commitment, dedication, and significant investment in sporting infrastructure to ensure a successful hosting of the games.
She praised the progress of work in the country despite economic challenges across the African continent and emphasized the Games’ importance in showcasing skills, talent, and promoting social cohesion on the African continent.
Her Excellency Cessouma also expressed delight with the location of some facilities at the University of Ghana, as it guarantees their continued use after the tournament.
“The Games are a very important platform to showcase the skill and talent to promote the values, hertitage and promote social cohesion on the African continent,” she said.
Source: GraphicOnline
