Local Organising Committee Chairman for the 2023 Africa Games, Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, says Ghana is en-route to host the best-ever Games the continent has witnessed.
Ghana will play host to the Games for the very first time since it started in 1965, and a 50,000 Olympic Stadium is under construction at Borteyman, while facilities at the University of Ghana – like the stadium, rugby fields and diaspora halls, are still receiving facelifts ahead of March 2024.
The university stadium has been pegged at ‘almost’ 70% complete, while other facilities have a completion score of 80% and 85% – despite the public fears of Ghana losing hosting rights because of the pace of work.
“The government of Ghana is so committed to organising this Games,” Dr Ofosu-Asare said.
“The president has given us every assurance – despite the [economic] challenges we are having. Elsewhere – I have spoken to so many African countries – they will have pulled out, but our government is committed to getting things done. We are hoping to host the Games.
“It will be one of the best ever,” he concluded.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the university’s Vice Chancellor, after indicating she was “quite impressed” with work on the facilities, revealed the real concerns she had.
“We’ve noticed the quality of grass on the field [university stadium] which we have pointed out to the contractors and they have assured us they are going to work on it. We are also concerned with the refurbishments going on within the student hostels for the students to in the meantime, keep these facilities as they are expected to be kept before the start of the games.”
Continuing students at the University of Ghana, are scheduled to have a 1st-semester break on February 4, 2024, to ensure work on the rooms is completed before athletes’ arrival.
Meanwhile, construction work at the stadium and rugby fields needs to be completed by December 2023, so the pre-Games mandatory testing of facilities can be done.
Mustapha Ussif is not worried about the deadline.
“We are not grappling with meeting deadlines. We are on track and are going to ensure the contractors complete the facilities on time for us to be able to do testing. The contractor did indicate we are almost 70% complete [with the stadium] – some of the other facilities are at 80%. The Games village is almost 85% complete.
“To assure the country and media, we will finish the facilities and do testing before the Games.”
