CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana 2023 Project Team, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, has indicated that the Ghana 2023 African Games would serve as a pathway to reorganise lesser-known sports in the country.
Apart from football, boxing and athletics, which are noted as big sporting disciplines in Ghana, over 25 other sporting disciplines are classified as ‘lesser-known’ sports because of the lack of financial support and interest from government and the public.
But Mr Danquah reckoned that the 2023 Games would be a perfect opportunity to realise the potential of these games to make them strong disciplines.
Speaking on the final day of the recently held two-day 6th International Sport Press Association (AIPS) Africa Meeting in Accra, Mr Danquah disclosed that for the first time in the Game’s history, Ghana will have three cities co-hosting the event.
He added that the hostels of selected universities would be adopted as Mini-Games Villages as one of the cost-saving endeavours for the Games.
Mr Danquah also intimated that the Games presented the nation the opportunity through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYs) to reposition sports as an emerging industry by instituting policies such as National Sports Policy Review.
Highlighting key benefits expected from the Games, Mr Danquah disclosed that as part of the requisite infrastructure, Ghana accepted to construct the Africa Union Sports Museum and Hall of Fame with a 1,500 capacity auditorium for hosting annual African Sports Awards.
His team will also embark on the first Green Games in the African Games where they intend to plant 500,000 seedlings over five years to commemorate the Games.
He said his team would also recruit 10,000 volunteers across selected African countries for the Games.
The 13th edition of the Games in 2023 will witness Ghana celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Games first staged in 1965.
The country, during the event, will also host the Games Awards on behalf of the African Union, the African Union Commission (AUC), and the African Union Sports Council (AUSC).
Ghana won the bid to host and organise the 13th edition of the African Games in Algeria, last year.
BY NANA BENTSI ODURO
