Ghana to bid for All Africa Games

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, has announced that Ghana will put in a bid for the 2019 edition of the All Africa Games.

Dr Ahmed made the announcement to a rapturous applause last Thursday when he addressed the media launch of Ghana's participation for the 2015 edition of the All Africa Games (AAG) slated for September in Congo, Brazzaville.

In response to a plea made by the Deputy Director General, Technical of the National Sports Authority, Saka Acquaye, for the nation to make a bid for the games, the minister said, "Since 1965 Ghana has not hosted the All Africa Games. The All Africa Games is held every four years and we have taken a decision at the ministry to also bid for the 2019 All Africa Games."

Dr Ahmed disclosed also that he had reached an agreement with his Congolese counterpart for the Black Stars to play in a game to open a new 60,000 capacity-seater stadium that has been constructed purposely for the AAG.

"Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Youth and Sports of Congo at the United Nations General Assembly.

We took time off to hold a few discussions and issues discussed included an invitation to the Black Stars to join them and play their national team to open a new 60,000-capacity stadium that they are building purposely for the All Africa Games.

"I accepted their proposal in principle and said I will need to have confirmation from the sports authority and the Ghana Football Association. Having received those confirmations we are set to respond that the Black Stars will play their national team to signify the opening of the stadium."

The minister also reassured the various sporting federations and Ghanaians that adequate preparations were being made for the Games in order to avoid a repeat of the disastrous campaign at the 2011 AAG in Mozambique.

He also appealed to corporate bodies to support the nation’s bid for laurels at the 2011 AAG.

Mr Acquaye who doubles as the Chef de Mission of the Games disclosed that members of the committee who were overseeing the Games were not receiving any bonuses for their efforts to double the nation's medal haul from the last game.

He also disclosed that Ghana had qualified for 16 disciplines, including soccer, athletics, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, disabled sports, football, judo, karate do, table tennis, taekwondo, swimming, indoor volleyball, weightlifting, fencing and tennis.