Chairman of the 2023 African Games Local Organizing Committee, Kwaku Ofosu Asare, has described Ghana’s hosting of the multi-sports event as beneficial despite the challenging times the country is currently facing.
According to him, hosting such an event will create job opportunities and stimulate the economy, as well as improve tourism and uplift the image of the University of Ghana whose stadium will serve as one of the venues for the games.
He believes the country’s economy would see an increase in all facets.
“Aside from the facilities, jobs are going to be created; the economy is going to be stimulated,” Ofosu Asare said in an interview.
“We are going to have improvement in tourism, we are going to uplift the image of Accra University of Ghana. Ghana’s image is going to shoot up and all that.
“When you quantify the benefits, they are priceless and I am appealing to all Ghanaians even though we are going through trying times, it is a good opportunity for us to host the African games and we think that the African games is gonna move us to the next level in all facets of the economy.”
He also lamented the excessive attention given to the national football team, despite their failure to win an Africa Cup of Nations title since 1982.
Asare believes that the African Games present a unique opportunity for Ghana to diversify its sports portfolio and focus on other disciplines.
“We don’t have to over-concentrate on football. We’ve done that for years,” he said.
“I mean, we all love football, running commentary and traveling with the team, but we need to also be looking at other disciplines. The African Games is giving us the opportunity to shift focus from football to other disciplines.”
The event which was originally scheduled for this year has been postponed to next year due to unprepared facilities.