Preparations for 2023 African Games in Accra Affected by Covid-19 says Perry Okudzeto
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Honorable Perry Okudzeto says Ghana’s preparation towards hosting the 2023 African Games has slowed down due to the corona virus pandemic.
According to him, the President’s directive to suspend all public gathering has prevented workers from continuing with their work on the facilities for the games.
The inspection team from the African Union that was supposed to come in April could not make it due to the closure of our borders. The visit has been rescheduled it to a later date.
There is a lot of renovation work to be done at our various sports centres including the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and the Accra Sports Stadium.
Last week the Minister for Youth and Sports, Honorable Isaac Kwame Asiamah commissioned the renovation of the Takoradi Sports Stadium.
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC) in October 2018 selected Accra – Ghana to host the continental multi – sport event ahead of Abuja, Nigeria and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Hungarian Olympic Committee in May last year held deliberations in Budapest, Hungary. The meeting explored a partnership aimed at successful African Games.
Ghana will host the 13th edition of the African Games in three cities. These are Kumasi, Cape Coast and the multi purpose sports complex to be built at Amasaman in Accra.
The 12th edition held in Rabat, Morocco last year had Ghana winning 13 medals.
The objectives of the African Games include:
Promoting top-class African Sports and encouraging cultural exchange between the Member States of the AU;
Encouraging young athletes to evolve and reach major international events where they can represent their countries and regions as whole;
Providing African countries with opportunities to unite by working on a sports program that reflect mutual agreement and understanding;
Developing a spirit of fair-play, mutual respect and Olympism among young African athletes;
Providing an opportunity for young people from the 54 Member States of the African Union to gather, get acquainted and learn about each other to develop a sense of community and regional integration.
Mustapha Hadj (Dean of Sports)
