L' Observateur Burundi

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is elated about team Ghana’s largest medal haul in history achieved at the 13th African Games, Accra 2023.

Ghana, hosting the Games for the first time (March 02-23), hauled a total of 68 medals – 19 gold, 29 silver, and 20 bronze – which is by far the largest in the nation’s history.

‘Let the success of these Games serve as a catalyst to invest further in sports development, and empower our youth to reach greater heights on the international stage.

‘You have showcased the best of Ghana to the world,’ the President noted in a congratulatory message to the contingent.

With an impressive showing before the home crowd, the country dominated the soccer events as the male U-20 and female U-20 teams both claimed gold for the host.

The hosts were also a delight to watch in the arm-wrestling events, showing their prowess by claiming eight gold medals, and making a strong presence in boxing and athletics.

Ghana finished sixth out of 53 participating nations, an improvement ov
er its 15th position in the 2019 Games in Rabat.

‘To the people of Ghana, I thank you for believing in the ability of Government to host the Games, the first time in our history,’ President Nana Akufo-Addo stated.

As the nation basked in the glory of this unprecedented success, it was necessary that stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sports as a tool for national development and unity, he noted.

‘Together, we can harness the power of sports to build a stronger, healthier and more prosperous Ghana for generations to come.’

Some 5,000 athletes participated in this year’s African Games in 30 disciplines – an increase from the 2019 African Games, which offered 26 sports. The 2015 Games had 22 disciplines.

The 30 disciplines included eight Olympic qualifying events, 15 non-qualifying and seven demonstration sports that showcased emerging trends and disciplines.

The Olympic qualifying events comprised swimming, athletics, badminton, cycling, tennis, table tennis, wrestling and triathlon.

D
emonstration sports included e-Sports, mixed martial arts, sambo and scrabble, promising what the African Union calls a ‘glimpse into the future of sports entertainment’.

One of the most significant legacies for Ghana is the construction of the new US$145 million (pound 132.5 million) Borteyman Sports Complex, which comes with a 1,000-seater Olympic-sized pool, 10-lane competition pool and an eight-lane warm-up pool.

The African Games 2023 was also seen as a form of preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games which will take place in Paris in July 2024.

The African Games, formerly known as the All-African Games or the Pan-African Games, are a continental multi-sport event held every four years.

It is organised by the African Union (AU) with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC).

Source: Ghana News Agency

The fourth edition of the prestigious cycling event dubbed ‘RideAfrique’ has been slated for March 30, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium. ?

With support from the Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF), it would attract over 200 riders across the country and Africa, and it is aimed at promoting the sport and unearthing talents.

The event is also geared towards testing the endurance, strength, and strategic thinking of cyclists as well as pushing them to their limits as they strive to outperform their competitors.

Mr. Richard Agu Chief Executive Officer of Rideafrique, disclosed measures outlined to ensure the successful hosting of the event.

He said the event would serve as a platform to promote and highlight the importance of environmental conservation.

He said, ‘we have meticulously planned every aspect to ensure a seamless experience for both participants and spectators’.

?’Safety measures, including medical support and assistance vehicles, will be in place throughout the race to guarantee the well-being of t
he cyclists.’

‘The event would be held in partnership with local conservation organizations, highlighting the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the regions through which the race passes’.

In an interview with the GNA Sports, Mr. Agu mentioned that winners of the race would walk home with consolidated prizes among other products from sponsors.

He said, ‘well, we are thrilled to announce that there are incredible prizes up for grabs, including cash prizes and a home trainer set, which also includes a RideAfrique cycling Jersey.’

He said the cash prizes add an extra level of excitement to the event.

?Participants would have the chance to win a substantial amount of money, making their efforts and dedication even more rewarding.

He said, ‘whether it’s for their personal achievements or to support a charitable cause, the cash prizes will undoubtedly make a significant impact’.

The event would be expected to attract foreign cyclists from Liberia, United State of America, United Kingdom, Togo, Be
nin, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Mustapha Ussif, the Minister of Youth and Sports, has lauded the efforts of stakeholders who contributed to Ghana’s delivery of the biggest and most exciting African Games in history.

He said this during the closing ceremony of the 13th African Games, which produced a spectacle across 29 sports disciplines, with athletes winning laurels for their countries.

The three-week sporting event, which was watched by an estimated two billion audiences, saw Ghana deliver an amazing sporting fiesta, with some athletes grabbing Olympic spots as well as setting records.

Mr. Ussif expressed special gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for making it a possibility for the games to happen despite the early challenges after winning the bid to host the games in 2018.

‘It was a huge responsibility, which we were prepared to scale, as our bid indicated. However, in the middle of our preparations, there was COVID-19 and other challenges, such as the impasse between AU, UCSA, and ANOCA.

‘But Ghana was in a po
sition of no surrender. We were determined to build the required infrastructure for the games. And in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, we had an outstanding diplomat who personally intervened and resolved the impasse, to pave the way for Accra 2023.

‘As the Minister responsible for Sports, with oversight responsibility for the Games, I was always encouraged, by the unwavering commitment of our Government and the personal commitment of My President towards the success of the Games, Accra 2023,’ he said.

The Sports Minister also expressed gratitude to the African Union, African Union Sports Council (AUSC), UCSA, and ANOCA, for giving Ghana the opportunity to host the 13th edition of the African Games, and for their support through the process.

Mr. Ussif also congratulated athletes, wishing them the best in their careers as well as appreciating the local and international media for their coverage.

‘The 13th African Games, Accra 2023, would be coming to an official close shortly, but for us in Ghana, it
has just started because the legacy of the 13th African Games lives on.

‘For Ghana, the legacy goes beyond the Games, as the multi-purpose infrastructure we have at the University of Ghana and Borteyman, would contribute greatly to our sports development programmes,’ the Minister stated.

Meanwhile, the 13th African Games was Ghana’s most successful outing in the history of the Games, having won 68 medals, including 19 gold, 29 silver, and 20 bronze medals.

Source: Ghana News Agency

North African sporting giant, Egypt, finished the 13th African Games with an astonishing 187 medals, marking one of their best performances at the games.

Egypt, who are the next hosts of the African Games, won 99 gold, 46 silver, and 42 bronze medals, while Nigeria finished second on the medal table with 121 medals.

Most of Egypt’s medals came from swimming, armwrestling, and table tennis, while Nigeria was largely competitive across various sporting disciplines.

South Africa placed third with 106 medals, while Algeria clinched fourth place with 114 medals. Tunisia was fifth with 86 medals.

Ghana recorded a sixth place finish on the medal table, having won 68 medals, representing the best performance since the inception of the games in 1965.

The armwrestling sport delivered 41 medals for Ghana, which includes eight gold, 19 silver, and 14 bronze medals.

Boxing, which happens to be one of Ghana’s strongest sporting disciplines, delivered seven medals, including four gold medals, one silver medal, and two
bronze medals.

It was double gold for Ghana in men’s and women’s football competitions, while track and field events in athletics also delivered six medals.

Some sports disciplines, including weightlifting (3), taekwondo (3), swimming (2), hockey (2), and volleyball (1), delivered medals for Ghana.

Other countries including Morocco (34 medals), Ethiopia (22 medals), Mauritius (25 medals) and Kenya (35 medals) respectively complete the top 10 teams on the medal table.

Source: Ghana News Agency