Africa Games 2023: Ex-President John Mahama calls for cancellation of games

Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for the cancellation of the 2023 Africa Games which Ghana were set to host in August 2023.

Mahama believes the current economic hardship in the country makes it inexpedient to be committing resources to hosting the multi-sport event.

Already, the country has been struggling to deliver infrastructure on time for the games, with the Local Organising Committee warning that any delay in the release of funds for the project could affect their ability to meet deadlines.

About $140 million has been earmarked for facilities for the games, monies that will supposedly come from the $750 million Afreximbank loan to the Government of Ghana.

“If it’s not too late, we can pull out of hosting the Africa Games, as it will severely stretch our precarious finances by hundreds of millions of cedis,” Mahama said in a speech Thursday night.

The event was already facing major challenges outside of the infrastructure, with a disagreement between the African Sporting Confederation and the African Union over marketing rights also threatening the hosting of the games.