Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Honourable Kofi Adams, has urged athletes, officials and fans who have traveled to Ghana for the 24th CAA African Senior Athletics Championship to take time to experience the country’s rich culture and hospitality during their stay in Accra.
The Minister made the appeal during the colourful opening ceremony held at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon ahead of the start of competition.
Addressing contingents from across Africa, Hon. Kofi Adams encouraged visitors to look beyond the track and field events and embrace the unique Ghanaian experience before leaving the country.
“Experience more than the stadium, feel the warmth of our people, experience our culture, build friendships across borders and create memories beyond competition because once the medals are won, what remains is the human connection.”
Hon. Kofi Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation
The championship has attracted over 800 athletes and officials from more than 40 African countries, with Ghana hosting the continental competition for the first time since its inception.
Sports Beyond Competition
The Sports Minister also stressed the importance of sports in promoting African unity and integration, insisting that athletics and other sporting disciplines can help bridge gaps that politics and economics sometimes fail to close.
According to him, the championship should not only be viewed as a contest for medals, but also as a platform to strengthen relationships among African nations. “If Africa is serious about integration then sports must become part of that integration agenda,” he said.
Kofi Adams further explained that sporting events naturally create bonds among people from different backgrounds and cultures across the continent adding that “Sports already does something that politics and economics sometimes struggle to achieve.”
He noted that the interactions and friendships built during such competitions contribute significantly to building a shared African identity. “The connections formed naturally build identity, creates belonging, and gives confidence in shared emotional language,” the Minister remarked.
The 24th edition of the CAA African Senior Athletics Championship officially gets underway on Tuesday at the University of Ghana Stadium, with some of Africa’s finest athletes expected to compete across more than 40 events over the course of the competition over six days.
Host nation Ghana will be aiming to make a strong impression in front of home supporters as the country seeks to win medals on home soil. The championship also provides Ghanaian athletes with a major opportunity to test themselves against elite competition from across the continent.
The event marks a historic moment for Ghana athletics, as it is the first time the nation has hosted the continental championship since the competition was established.
Defending champions South Africa enter the tournament as favourites after dominating the previous edition held in Douala, Cameroon, where they finished top of the medal table with an impressive haul.
Organisers are hopeful the championship will not only deliver memorable performances on the track, but also showcase Ghana’s culture, hospitality and ability to host major international sporting events successfully.
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