Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has been outlining what Ghana stands to gain for hosting the 13th edition of the African Games.
Speaking at the Minister’s Press Briefing series of the Information Ministry, Mustapha Ussif said the tournament will give the country about 2.5 billion audience within the 2 week period of the games.
This, he asserted, will give Ghana the needed attraction and aid in the promotion of its culture and locally produced goods.
Aside from this, the minister said the influx of participating teams and their supporters from all over the continent into the country will boost local economy and increase demand for the local currency.
The Minister believes this will strengthen the Cedi and help in turning the economic turmoil around.
“For the 2 weeks period, Ghana is estimated to have over 2.5 billion TV and online viewing audience. It will also give a opportunity for us to strengthen our currency, that’s the Ghana Cedi because most of all the 55 countries that will be participating, their teams are going to come here, they will be using our local banks here to ensure that they transfer their currencies or the monies that they will be using during the games and this will go a long way to strengthen our currency,” he stated.
Mustapha Ussif is also confident that the tournament will assist in unearthing talents and improving local sports.
“The games will also unearth talent, they will inculcate the spirit of volunteerism among the youth”.
The 13th African Games was initially slated to take place in Accra, Ghana from 4th to 19th August.
However, an impasse over marketing rights among major stakeholders of the competition resulted in a postponement to March next year.
Ghana is currently constructing sports facilities at University of Ghana and Borteyman for the purposes of hosting the tournament.
The facilities, the Minister indicated, will be converted into a sports university after the games and will frequently host major continental tournament.
This, for him, will make Ghana a sports tourism hub.
