Ghana’s president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has tasked the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Games (Accra 2023) to deliver an outstanding edition of the competition in its 57-year history.
The official opening of the Borteyman Sports Complex, one of the main locations set aside for the Games, which is slated to take place between March 8 and March 23, 2024, coincided with the President’s call on Tuesday.
The 25-day countdown until the competition’s opening was also started at the commissioning.
In order to guarantee that the projected 8,000 guests—who will include athletes, officials, media, and fans—receive unmatched hospitality throughout the competition, President Akufo-Addo asked the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to make every effort.
Seven competitive sports—table tennis, handball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, badminton, and triathlon—will be able to be played at the Borteyman Sports Complex.
Notably, badminton, table tennis, triathlon, and tennis will all serve as qualifiers for the Paris, France, Olympic Games in 2024.
A 1,000-seat swimming pool with 10 lanes for competition and 8 lanes for warm-ups is one of the most prominent features of the Borteyman facilities.
Another is a multipurpose Sports Hall that can hold 1,000 spectators for events like basketball, badminton, netball, table tennis, and weightlifting.
There’s also a five-tennis court complex, with a 1,000-seat Centre Court, and a 500-seat temporary dome for handball, volleyball, judo, karate, taekwondo, fencing, and arm wrestling.
In order to guarantee timely preparation for the Games, President Akufo-Addo outlined the hybrid strategy used by his administration and the LOC, employing both already-existing facilities and finishing projects like the University of Ghana Stadium and the Borteyman Complex.
The President expressed satisfaction in the Borteyman Complex, seeing it as a lasting legacy for future generations and a monument to the nation’s readiness to host the continent, despite early doubts about Ghana’s ability to host.
The President claims that the construction of these facilities demonstrates the government’s commitment to the advancement of sports.
In addition, he mentioned the construction of ten regional stadiums, six of which have already been finished, and the continuing refurbishment of stadiums in Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi.
The President also revealed plans to finish building 100 more AstroTurfs across the country this year, bringing the total to 150 built under his administration.
Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports, praised the Borteyman facility’s contractor and consultant for their quick completion.
As a legacy for upcoming generations, he saw the Borteyman Complex as a hub for athletic achievement.
Mr. Ussif expressed optimism that the facility would be maintained throughout time so that it would continue to benefit present and future generations.
“The African Games will foster unity among Africans and celebrate the beauty of our diverse culture,” he remarked.