The Minority in Parliament has criticised the just-concluded 13th African Games held in Accra, branding it a “monumental disaster and total embarrassment”
The 13th African Games, which took place from March 8 to March 23, 2024, faced organisational challenges, with athletes, especially those from Ghana, complaining about logistics and equipment shortages.
Despite these setbacks, Ghana achieved its highest-ever medal tally, totaling 69 medals, including 19 gold medals.
However, Kobena Mensah Woyome, the Ranking Member on the Youth and Sports Committee of Parliament, lambasted the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government for what he termed as a poorly organised event.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Woyome highlighted the lack of clear policies for tourism promotion and trade facilitation, and the absence of economic viability strategies despite the substantial $240 million expenditure on the Games.
“The just-ended games were a monumental disaster and total embarrassment to our dear country. The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government spent a staggering 240 million dollars on the just-ended games yet, the organization and management of the event were poor and shambolic.
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“Quite apart from the fact that it lacked the clear combined effect of economic viability, the organization of the games lacked clear-cut policies for tourism promotion and trade facilitation. This could have given us some economic value for the huge expenditure on the game.
“Given the current state of the Ghanaian economy, which has been rendered bankrupt by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government. Emerging details about the hefty expenditure of the games raised concerns among Ghanaians.”
The organization of the Games also saw the establishment of the Borteyman Sports Complex and the completion of the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and the Games Village, signaling progress in sports development.
Meanwhile, the opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) previously called for the dismissal of Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif, citing strong opposition to the organization of the championship, particularly referencing South Africa’s withdrawal from the Hockey competitions due to poor pitch conditions.