Ghana will be hosting the rest of Africa in 2023 after edging Egypt to win the hosting rights of the Africa Games for that year.
The decision was taken in Algeria on Thursday at the 3rd Specialised Committee Meeting on Youth, Culture and Sports (STC-YCS) forum of the African Union Commission Ministers’ session.
The Africa Games (formerly known as the All Africa Games) is a gathering of the continent’s best sportsmen and women from several disciplines including football, boxing, athletics, swimming, tennis etc and it is held every four years.
The decision to give Ghana the hosting rights is one that excites sports fans but it will require major capital injection to put up several facilities to deal with the disciplines that be held during the Games.
However, the Sports Ministry has indicated its commitment to make Ghana a very ready and capable host of the Games whose next home will be in Morocco in 2019.
In a statement signed by Perry Okudzeto, deputy Sports Minister, and put out on Friday, October 26, the Ministry said:
“The Ministry believes this is a unique opportunity to rewrite the scripts of Ghana sports for the next century. The Ministry is committed to providing facilities for Ghana to host a successful tournament as continental sports event will be staged in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.”
How has Ghana fared in the history of the All Africa Games?
Ghana has won a total of 153 medals in the history of the All Africa Games including gold medals in men’s football (in 2010), women’s football (in 2015) and in tennis (in 2015).
The 2023 edition of the Games will also serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Ghana is hosting the Games for the first time in its history.
