Sports
Let’s speed up on the African Games
There is always a first time for everything – and there has to be a first time for any human endeavour.
So, two years away from now – specifically in 2023, Ghana will for the first time have the opportunity of hosting the quadrennial games (African Games).
It is worthy to note that the maiden Games were held in 1965 in Brazzaville, Congo.
For a country that had for ages been a strong advocate for African unity and indeed championed the fight for the decolonization of the continent, it is really astonishing to many that Ghana (first country south of the Sahara to gain independence), has not had the opportunity of hosting the prestigious Games.
Heartily, in two years’ time, the continental sporting showcase is “coming home.”
The 13th edition of the African Games is expected to be held in three cities in the country on dates yet to be determined.
For the second time in history of the Games, the showpiece would be decentralised in a process that started in the previous edition held in Morocco.
As such, three Ghanaian cities (Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast) have been chosen for these functions.
Already, a land has been secured at Bortyeman in the Greater Accra Region to construct the necessary facilities for the Games and the procurement process to engage the contractor has been completed.
The facilities to be constructed include a 50,000 capacity Olympic Stadium complex, multi-purpose sports halls for all indoor sports, aquatic centres for swimming and tennis courts.
This is the third year (October 2018), Ghana got the nod to host the Games, but one must admit that preparations appear all-too slow for a multi-sport event that is expecting more than 5,000 athletes from over 50 countries.
As the sports ministry itself has said, the Games will be a unique opportunity to rewrite the scripts of the country’s sports for the next century and things have to be sped up to be able to meet supposedly early deadlines to the benefit of the nation.
For that matter, no efforts should be spared to make the event a grand success as the eyes of the continent is expected to be fixed irrevocably on us – aware that anything associated with Ghana is of sterling quality. We do not have to disappoint the world.
Indeed, the benefits of staging such Games are incalculably great as we are told by Minister of Youth and Sports Isaac Asiamah, that the Olympic stadium is poised to become a National Centre of Excellence for Sports Development. According to the Minister, already, a sustainability plan that will last for generations has been put in place to convert the facility into a University of Sports Development after the Games; so it does not lie idle and waste away.
It sounds pretty sparkling as experience has shown in a number of African countries that such huge facilities virtually go waste after the Games and we need to take a leaf from that to ensure that we put ours into a proper, sustained use.
For now, it is high time we worked our tail off to guarantee a successful organisation and host of the Games.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Otto Addo is taking a calm and focused approach to the World Cup after being drawn against England, Panama, and Croatia in Group L.
“I look forward to every game as special,” he told ghanafa.org.
“Very important for us that we don’t underrate any team. For sure, England is the favourite in that group,” he acknowledged. “But for me as a coach, to be honest, I’m looking at each and every game equally.”
Addo is particularly focused on getting a strong start against Panama. “I’m hoping that we have a good start against Panama, that will be very, very crucial,” he said. “It will make the other games a little bit more relaxed and easier for the players psychologically. We will use the window of March for test matches, and then see,” he said.
Despite being a young team, Addo is proud of his squad’s progress. “I think we did very well in the qualifiers ” he said. “We didn’t lose a single official game, like the qualifying games, we did very well. We just played one draw and the rest we won, so we had quite a good year in 2025, after a bad year in 2024’’.
“Even though we have a very young team, we really, really did well, had a good harmony in the team, good union,” he added.
Ghana will open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on June 17 before facing England and Croatia in the other Group L matches on June 23 and 27 respectively.
The unbeaten away run of Accra Hearts of Oak will be put to the test tomorrow when they visit the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to play as guests of Karela United. Described as one of the top-liners of the weekend games, the match will pitch one of the best home teams against the best away team, with their records on the line.
After playing a pulsating 2-2 draw with Kumasi Asante Kotoko last week, league leaders Medeama SC return to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to welcome Berekum Chelsea FC in a clash of former league winners. Medeama have struggled in recent times to hold their own against the ‘Bibires’, losing their last four games both home and away.
However, according to Head Coach of Medeama, Tanko Ibrahim, that sequence of results will come to an end tomorrow as they look to crawl out of the claws of their opponents with victory. Eleven points separate the sides, with Berekum Chelsea lying a distant 14th position on the log. They have been a pale shadow of themselves this season, and it remains to be seen if Coach Samuel Boadu’s side can keep the bragging rights over the Yellow and Mauves in what has been described as one of their worse starts to a league season.
Today, second-placed Kpando Heart of Lions will trek to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese to play as guests of struggling Nations FC. Having suffered a 1-0 away loss to Basake Holy Stars in their last game, Nations FC would look to pick all three points to better their current 12th position.
In other games, the Hohoe Sports Stadium will come alive as new boys Hohoe United FC welcome Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema will host the Vision FC versus Young Apostles FC game, the Tuba Astro Turf will host the Dreams FC versus Bechem United FC clash, while the Nsenkyire Sports Arena will host the Samartex FC versus Bibiani Gold Stars game. High-riding Aduana FC will sort things out with Basake Holy Stars at the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park in Dormaa.
By Raymond Ackumey
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