African Games: Ghana hopes legacy overcomes current economic crisis

The 13th African Games are currently in progress in Ghana, but the tournament is under intense scrutiny due to the high costs of hosting the event amid economic turmoil.

Around $250m (£195.2m) has been promised to be spent on the multi-sport event, but government opponents have said they are heavily indebted, enduring high inflation and struggling with the effects of inflation. It was declared the “wrong priority” for the country in question. Local cost of living crisis.

“I just don't think we have our priorities right as a country,” opposition lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told BBC Sport Africa.

“Our company has been declared bankrupt, bankrupt and downgraded by all government rating agencies and is in junk status.

“This government has a penchant for big spending.” [on] That's not really the case [a] priority. “

But Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo says the legacy of hosting the Olympics will far outlive the economic difficulties the country is experiencing.

President Akufo-Addo said at the opening ceremony in Accra last Friday, “It took a lot of courage to stick with the decision to hold the Games, but I am glad we made the decision.''

“We are proud of the extensive sports infrastructure we have put in place for the Olympics. This will be a great legacy for our country.”

But the tournament, which sees more than 5,000 athletes and officials from across the continent competing in 29 events, did not have the best start.

There were four power outages in the first three days of the competition, including during the opening women's soccer match between Ghana and Ethiopia at Cape Coast Stadium and at the Olympic Village.

The first beach volleyball match was reportedly delayed 35 minutes because the nets were not installed, and Ghana's cycling team had to buy new bikes.

One of Ghana's biggest investments is the $145m (£113.2m) Beautiman Sports Complex.

A further $34m (£26.5m) will be spent on refurbishing the University of Ghana Stadium, $16m (£12.5m) will be used to renovate the Olympic Village and $48m (£37.5m) will be used by organizers to renovate the Olympic Village. It is used for operations. 16 day event.

Due to the timing of the Olympics, only eight sports – track and field, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wrestling – will use the Olympics as qualification for the 2024 Olympics, with many prominent African athletes not taking part. You have made a choice.

And there wasn't much publicity about the Games in Accra before the opening ceremony.

“Awareness is a little behind,” said Fred Kwabena, who sells various national team merchandise at Osu Junction in the capital.

“The Black Stars' poor performance at the African Cup of Nations didn't help. Many remain disappointed.”

Yaw Asare, who works as a taxi driver in the city, says not many Ghanaians are excited about the Olympics, which are being held amid severe economic uncertainty.

Inflation reached more than 40% last year, but has since fallen to about 23%.

“We need food on the table, not in the stadium. Our leaders should care about us more,” he said.

Holding the Olympics could have wider implications as the incumbent Mr Akufo-Addo is not eligible for re-election as Ghanaians head to the polls in December to cast their votes for parliament and a new president. There is.

His deputy Mahamudu Bawumia, who oversaw the planning of the African Games, is the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), while former president John Mahama will lead the National Democratic Congress in the vote.

Lord Mensah, an economics professor at the University of Ghana, said hosting the Games was surprisingly expensive because of the huge amount of infrastructure that had to go into it.

Professor Mensah told BBC Sport Africa: “When you have an economy that isn't doing well, like Ghana, you're going to be in trouble.”

“If you don’t have enough infrastructure to absorb the influx of people, you end up starting from scratch and it costs a lot of money.”

The country's Youth and Sports Minister Mustafa Ussif said there was “no perfect time” to host the Olympics, but it could give the country a boost.

“The amount we have spent has gone through all the rigorous procurement processes, has been approved by Cabinet and has also been subject to parliamentary scrutiny,” he said.

“Even during these difficult times, it is possible to use sport to relieve the stress experienced during COVID-19.” [pandemic]. ”

However, opposition lawmaker Ablakwa countered that the cost was significantly higher than the initial cost approved by parliament.

Professor Mensah warns that despite hopes of an upturn in the hospitality industry, investments in the African Games may not have a positive impact on Ghana's struggling economy.

“Costs are often inflated, which limits economic benefits,” he said.

“The players coming to Japan don't really have a huge amount of purchasing power to match the investment. But if the infrastructure is maintained properly, the long-term benefits will outweigh the current expenditure.”

Ghana, which has invested heavily in hosting the African Games, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Morocco and become West Africa's regional sporting hub.

The aim is to attract local and international federations to camp in the country ahead of continental and global competitions and potentially host other sporting events.

The Beautiman Sports Complex currently features international standard tennis and badminton courts, an aquatics venue with a 10-lane swimming pool, and a multipurpose hall for indoor events.

It also features a temporary 500-seat dome, a six-lane athletics warm-up track and a FIFA-standard training pitch.

“What is unique about the facilities we have provided is that they are all accredited by world federations,” Ussif told BBC Sport Africa.

“We will have the opportunity to host regional and national events at these facilities, which will help us develop more talent.”

Ussif said there are plans to transform the Beautiman Sports Complex into a “sports university” after the Olympics end on March 23.

“The investment we have made goes beyond the Olympics,” he added.

“Our plan is to promote sports tourism to our country.”

Ghana spent $100m (£78m) renovating and building facilities before hosting the African Cup of Nations in 2008, but the One of the biggest challenges will be maintenance.

“This is not the first time we have hosted such a big event,” said Muftau Abdulai, a Ghanaian sports journalist.

“Maintenance has always been an issue for us.

“If we can maintain these facilities, it will be a real boon for sport in Ghana.”