The Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Ussif Mustapha has disclosed that Government had spent $154 million on the reconstruction of the Legon Sports Stadium and other sports facilities including a world-class rugby park, swimming pool and athletics oval.
The facilities are meant for the 13th Africa Games to be held in Ghana next year.
‘’Facilities for the 13th African Games are almost complete for the Games in March next year. The quality of these facilities will open Ghana up to host other continental and world champions”, Hon. Mustapha said.
The Minister made this disclosure yesterday when he took his turn at the Minister’s Press Briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra.
The Games would feature a total of 22 disciplines, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wrestling, which would serve as Olympic qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The rest which are non-Olympic qualifiers, are arm wrestling, athletics, beach volleyball, boxing, cricket, football, handball, hockey, judo, karate, rugby, volleyball, weightlifting, basketball (3×3) and taekwondo.
Additionally, five disciplines-e-sports, mixed martial arts, speedball, sambo, teqball, scrabble and pickleball-would be showcased as demonstration sports during the event.
According to him, the 2023 African Games would be used to lead the charge in making Ghana a destination for global sporting activities.
Hon. Ussif Mustapha expressed appreciation to the African Union (AU) and other stakeholders for collaborating with the Government to ensure Ghana in March 2024.
Resolution of Challenges
The Minister for Youth and Sports commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his pivotal role in resolving the long-standing impasse among the African Union (AU), the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOCA), and the Association of African Sports Confederation.
He said the signing of the Negotiated Agreement on the Management and Organisation of the African Games on February 19, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marked a significant milestone in the planning process.
Source: MOI (PR Unit)
