African Games will be huge legacy for Ghana – President Akufo-Addo declares

The Borteyman Sports Complex has been declared ready for the 13th African Games slated for March 8 – 23, 2024.

On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the $145 million beautiful edifice constructed for the games which Ghana is hosting for the first time.

Facilities
Among the notable features of the Borteyman complex are a 1,000-seater capacity swimming pool, comprising a 10-lane competition swimming pool and an eight-lane warm-up swimming pool, alongside a multi-purpose Sports Hall capable of seating 1,000 spectators for various events such as basketball, badminton, netball, table tennis, and weightlifting.

The Borteyman Sports Complex will handle seven competitive sports, made up of table tennis, handball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, badminton, and the triathlon. Four of these events – table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and badminton – will double as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Pessimism
President Akufo-Addo said despite the loud calls by some pessimists for the nation to withdraw from hosting the tournament, the government remained resolute in hosting it. “Today, Ghana can be proud of the massive sporting infrastructure put in place for the games,” he added.

Huge legacy
The President indicated that the games will be a huge legacy for the country. “Our nation is expecting some 5,000 elite athletes, 3,000 experienced officials and thousands of fans in the country, together with an estimated global audience of 2.2 billion people watching through traditional and social media,” he said .

Why now
Raising the question of why Ghana has not hosted the African Games until now, the President provided an answer: “The answer is simple: there is a time for everything; and this is our time. “

He added: “We are now ready and capable of organising and hosting the rest of the continent, here in Ghana. The people and Government of Ghana are honoured and grateful to the Africa Union for the opportunity to host the rest of Africa for the first time in our history.”