13th African Games Will Give Ghana Over 2 billion TV, Online Viewership- Minister
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif has stated that Ghana’s bid to host the upcoming 13th African Games will enhance the projection of the country as television and online space will attract an estimated 2.5 billion audience.
This forms part of the myriad of economic achievements hosting the games will bring to the country, he said.
In addition, it will attract direct foreign investment and in the long run strengthen the country’s forex, he added.
Through the back door, he said, hosting the game will also enable Ghana to use sports to achieve national and continental development goals; contribute to Ghana’s transformational agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063; improve sports infrastructure deficiency in the country; and position Accra as Sports Hub.
He outlined these during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, while updating the country on preparations towards hosting the Games in March next year.
The MP for Yagaba-Kubori Constituency in the North East Region said hybrid model infrastructural projects are currently being developed for the grand game funded through a loan secured from AFREXIM Bank by the Akufo-Ado-led government.
He explained “The hybrid model was adopted to provide the required infrastructure at the University of Ghana campus and Berteyman due to delay in the planning process and project cost considerations…Work is currently ongoing at two different locations with three number EPC contractors. “
The contractors are Messrs Contractor UK Limited for Borteyman; Messrs Consars Limited for the University of Ghana; and Messrs Mawums Limited also for the University of Ghana.
Among the three, the Borteyman Infrastructure is the major one for the games, he said.
It comprises a 100-seater competition swimming pool; an eight-lane warmup swimming pool; a 100-seater multi-purpose Sports Hall; a 500-seater temporary dome; five tennis courts; a six-lane athletic track; a FIFA standard football training field; children’s playground; administration building; and equipment associated with the infrastructure development and furniture.
Sports Disciplines
22 sports disciplines will be featured in the 13th African Games out of which will be seven Olympic qualifiers, 15 non-Olympic qualifiers and five sports disciplines as demonstration.
The seven Olympic qualifiers will have sports like Badminton, cycling, swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Wrestling.
On the other hand, the 15 non-Olympic qualifiers have sports including Armwrestling, Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cricket, Football, handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Rugby, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Basketball, and Taekwondo.
While the five sports disciplines for demonstration include E-sports, Mixed Martial Arts, Speedball, Sambo and Teqball.
Schedule
The Games will take place from 8th to 23rd March 2023, however, athletes and officials will arrive from 5-7th March.
The opening ceremony for the Game will take place on March 8 with the closing ceremony slated for March 23, 2024.
