On March 1, 2024, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia inaugurated the University of Ghana stadium (Legon Stadium) in Accra.
The colorful ceremony marked the completion of the 11,000 capacity facility, which will be a venue for the upcoming 13th edition of the African Games in Accra.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized the significance of the African Games in the continent’s history during the commissioning ceremony.
“I believe it is common knowledge that the Great Pan African and First President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is a founding member of the Games. The Games thus inhabit the Spirit of Africa and Pan Africanism.
“Our theme for this edition of the Games, “Experience the African Dream”, is thus steeped in the core values of unity, independence, political and economic cooperation, as well as historical and cultural awareness.”
He added that “this is the age of the African Renaissance. The continent is tagged by Trade Finance Global with the potential to shape geopolitics and world economics for decades to come.
“This potential would not marginally materialize to propel our people into prosperity without conscious and intentional action on the part of everyone, especially leadership across all social divides and facets of society.”
The United Nations, he said, had “Identified sports as the most appropriate vehicle for sustainable socio-economic development and made a pronouncement as such in 2018. Combined with the youthful bulge of our demographic dividend, the opportunity is here, and the time is now. Ghana is ready to host the world.
“It is in recognition of many social and cultural benefits inherent in sports that the Government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic, took the bold decision to bid for and win the rights for Ghana to host this edition of the African Games. This visionary step has resulted in the construction of international standard sporting facilities such as the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and Rugby Field and the Borteyman Sports Complex.
“Construction of these facilities have not been easy, but we know that the returns would be immediate and substantial”, he concluded.
More than 13,000 elite athletes, sports experts, technicians, officials, and volunteers are anticipated to take part in the African Games, concluding on Saturday, March 23.
The African Games serve as a platform for the continent’s top sporting talents to come together, compete, and celebrate African cultural diversity in an atmosphere of unity and camaraderie.
tigpost.co