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13th African Games: Ghana is ready!
• One of the new tennis courts at Borteyman
In less than a week from today, Ghanaian sports fans would witness live the biggest continental sporting spectacle – 13th Africa Games kick-off on Friday at the University of Ghana Sports Complex in Accra.
It is expected to be opened with a colourful and outstanding opening ceremony which for the first time would see the facility filled to its brim.
It is historic in the annals of Ghana sports because it will be the first on the soil but it is also historic in the competition’s own history as the edition to have suffered a lot of setbacks.
The buildup and preparations witnessed several glitches ranging from stalling of works, the slow pace of work, misunderstanding between the owners of the Games and requiring Ghana government interventions at certain times plus many others.
In the midst of that storm, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by its Executive Chairman, Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare kept assuring Ghanaians the Games would come on.
Possibly, some of those assurances began to sound like a rhetoric in the ears of pessimists, considering the evidence available and maybe, forced the LOC to look for ‘further and better particulars’ to convince them.
That may be the rationale behind the LOC’s tactic of associating with every local sporting event in the last days to use the platforms to assure Ghanaians about the readiness to host one of the finest games in the history of the competition.
But Tuesday’s assurance from the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his message to Parliament on the State of the Nation address (SONA) appears to have calmed nerves about the true state of readiness.
Indeed, it is an event every Ghanaian must be excited about because of the long term gains and impact it will have on sports development and promotion in Ghana.
For the first time in over two decades, Ghana will boast of a world-class athletics oval and open our territory to hosting international championships.
Indoor events would also not be left out as their respective federations are set to benefit from the world-class venues constructed for the Games.
The University of Ghana would be a major beneficiary with its seemingly
abandoned sports complex undergoing refurbishment and installation of the needed logistics to make it ready to host international games.
In all, the Games would attract over 7,000 athletes and officials from the member states and participate in 29 sporting disciplines categorised into Olympic qualifiers, non-Olympic qualifiers and demonstration sports.
The Olympic sports qualifiers include athletics, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wrestling.
Categorised under non-Olympic sports are arm-wrestling, beach volley, basketball 3×3, boxing, chess, cricket, football, handball, hockey, judo, karate-do, rugby, taekwondo, volleyball, and weightlifting.
E-sports, mixed martial arts, pickle ball, sambo, scrabble and speech ball will serve as demonstration sports.
Interestingly, what is missing in the preparation of Team Ghana towards the Games is the popular ‘Host and Win’ cliché that often characterises meetings of this nature.
Had it been a football championship, this axiom would have flown everywhere but why it has vanished from the lips of local athletes and officials should clearly send a certain signal to fellow Ghanaian fans to be modest in their expectation.
Just like the Olympic Games, Ghana is not an established force in such events, always identifying disciplines with competitive advantage to seek honours.
That status would not change drastically but an increase in her medal haul would justify the huge expenditure made on the Games as we look into the future with hope.
By Andrew Nortey
The Ashanti South Regional Police Intelligence Directorate has arrested two suspects in connection with a robbery attack on an Indian national in Obuasi and a separately planned robbery operation targeting a distribution company in the same area.
On April 16, 2026, Police received credible intelligence that a group of armed men were planning an attack in Obuasi. A police team moved swiftly into the area and arrested suspect Iddrisu Fuseini, also known as “Iddi”, at his hideout in Bedieso, Obuasi.
During interrogation, he confessed to being part of a six-member gang that attacked an Indian national at his residence at New Baakoyeden, Obuasi, on April 12 2026, robbing him of GH₵150,000.00.
He disclosed that the attack was orchestrated following a tip-off from suspect Ibrahim, an employee of the victim, who informed the gang that the victim kept large sums of money.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a second suspect, Shaibu Mohammed, also known as “SM” or “Cicinati”, on 20th April 2026 at his hideout in Gausu, Obuasi. During interrogation, he admitted to participating in the planning of the robbery and confirmed that the gang had further planned to rob a distribution company near Mawuli Hotel in Obuasi.
Investigations have further revealed that both suspects are currently standing trial at the Obuasi Circuit Court in connection with a separate robbery of GH₵600,000.00.
A manhunt is ongoing to arrest the remaining accomplices, identified as Khalifa, Edward, Prof, Waddle, Ebbe, and Ibrahim, and to recover a pump action gun and a locally manufactured pistol believed to be in their possession.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
