Africa is coming to Accra again: For 2026 African Athletics championships
WO years after hosting what is arguably one of the most successful African Games, Accra is readying for another African competition, this time, the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships scheduled for May 12 to 17 at the University of Ghana Stadium.
About 54 countries are expected to participate in the event, the 24th edition and which will be the first outdoor competition for this season, as many of the athletes intend to use it as preparations for the Commonwealth Games.
Last Wednesday, a colourful ceremony was held to launch the competition, signalling the official countdown to Africa’s most prestigious track and field event in about 48 days.
The launch, also ushering the official countdown to the competition, had in attendance, some of the big wigs in Ghana sports, including the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, officials from the Ghana Olympic Committee, as well as Ghana Athletics.
Africa is coming to Accra
Speaking at the launch, Mr Adams stressed that Ghana would be guided by the lessons and success of hosting the 2023 Africa Games to ensure that this prestigious event was also successful.
He gave the assurance of the government’s unwavering commitment, highlighting the support from the highest levels of leadership, including President John Dramani Mahama, to foster the growth and visibility of athletics in Ghana.
"From the moment Ghana was entrusted with this honour, we have worked closely with the Confederation of African Athletics and the Local Organising Committee to ensure everything is in place," he stated.
Mr Adams called on corporate Ghana to seize the opportunity presented by Accra 2026 to invest in athletics, emphasising the sport's potential as a powerful branding and marketing platform.
"Africa is coming to Accra," he declared. "We invite our continental brothers and sisters to join us in making this event a success and a showcase of Africa's best athletes. When visitors arrive, we want them to feel at home and see Ghana's readiness to host a world-class championship."
The stars
For the six days that the competition would be held, the UG Stadium is expected to come alive as it relives the exciting moments of track and field contest showcased during the 2023 African Games.
Apart from Ghana’s high performing athletes, almost all the top African stars, who participated in the African Games are coming back with stars such as Nigeria's Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles, South Africa and Botswana’s high flying relay teams who have dazzled at the world stage, confirming their participation.
For Ghana, it will be an opportunity to reconnect with the heroes such as Africa’s high hump queen, Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah and track stars, Joseph Paul Amoah, Benjamin Azamati, Ibrahim Fuseini, Isaac Botsio, Edwin Gadayi and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu.
It will also provide another opportunity for rivalry, notably a Ghana versus Nigeria showdowns which always provide some thrills.
The President of Ghana Athletics, Fuseini Bawa, who is also a member of the local organising committee, described the launch of the countdown as a decisive transition from planning to execution.
“The plan has always been to have a 50-day countdown, Having launched the event, we will now consistently update the nation on what has been done so far and what remains to be done to ensure a successful event,” he told the Daily Graphic.
He admitted that preparations have largely taken place away from the public eye, but assured that visibility would now increase significantly.
Mr Bawa revealed that all key subcommittees — Accommodation and Feeding, Transport and Logistics, Security, Protocol, as well as Media and Sponsorship — have been working steadily and will now accelerate efforts to meet strict timelines ahead of the Confederation of African Athletics’ final inspection in mid-April.
Accommodation arrangements are also taking shape, with the Limann Hall at the University of Ghana earmarked to host all participating athletes. With the university due to go on break later this month, preparations to ready the facility are expected to intensify.
“There are clear timelines and we are working within them. But certainly, more will be done to improve areas such as publicity,” Mr Bawa said.
Organisers are also determined to recreate the electric atmosphere that greeted athletics events at the same venue during the 13th African Games.
“We want to generate the same euphoria we witnessed at the University of Ghana Stadium during the African Games,” he added.
With regards to technical preparations, Mr Bawa said so far, over 100 trained technical officials are expected to officiate, as Ghana aims to deliver a seamless and world-class championship.
Also, additional electronic timing equipment will be procured to meet international standards, aligning the event with benchmarks set by the World Athletics and the Olympic Games.
