In about six months Ghana will host the whole of Africa. Sounds ridiculous right. Perhaps sheer lack of readiness and awareness of hosting Africa could be the reason for the despair.
As ridiculous as it may sound the truth in entirety is that Ghana is expected to host the 2023 African Games. 4,000 athletes from 53 different countries will gather and compete in over 20 disciplines during the games.
Since independence Afcon 2008 will arguably go down as the best tournament to be hosted by Ghana. Two new ultramodern stadiums namely, Essipong sports Stadium and Aliu Mahama Sports stadium were erected. Together with newly constructed training centers, Ghana gave Africa a perfect treat.The tournament put Ghana on the map in terms of organization and hosting such that the standard set had ripple effect on future tournaments.
Fast-forward in 2023 Ghana is set to host a much more bigger tournament. This presents Ghana another opportunity to add to its gains.
Six months to hosting Afcon 2008 there was high conviction in Ghana’s capacity of hosting the competition, among the populace and the Local Organizing Committee.
The story however seems to be different in 2023. The advent of the African Games seems to have taken a different turn. The inability to construct a 50,000 capacity Olympic stadium at Borteyman was the first red flag.
This gave room for doubts over Ghana’s ability to host the quadrennial event. The site until recently had become feeding grounds for animals like cows and rodents. Indeed the ghost work at the site was an eye opener. In an Attempt to restore hope in Ghana’s capacity to host the games University of Ghana’s stadium was quickly adopted as a replacement for the Borteyman Olympic stadium. Other facilities like the Theodosia Okoh hockey pitch, Achimota Cricket field is yet to be given facelift ahead of the African games. Ghana face a race against time to host the games.
During the 47th Sports Writers Association of Ghana SWAG awards, president of the association Mr. Kwabena Yeboah indicated that Ghana has requested for postponement of hosting the African games in August owing to lack of readiness.
The Local Organizing Committee being led by Dr. Kweku Ofori Asare is working assiduously to forestall the unthinkable from happening however lack of financial commitment from government continues to tarry progress.The sad truth is that Ghana is not far from losing the right to host the 2023 African Games to another country.
What has become of us since successfully hosting the Afcon in 2008 ? The same country that demonstrated high standards in 2008 is on the brink of being subjected to international ridicule.
It is interesting that a country which cannot boost of two stadia that qualifies to host an international football match wants to host the whole of Africa
I’m hoping Ghana comes through with little or no dirt at all but don’t be surprised if the nation is stripped off the right to host the competition.
Editorial by Ebenezer Osei Kofi Bimpong