The African Games is officially underway in Ghana for the first time after a spectacular opening ceremony at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra.
Almost 3,000 athletes from 49 countries will compete in the Games — the 13th edition, Accra 2023 — which will end on March 23, 2024.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Friday declared the Games officially open, heralding 16 days of competition across 29 different sporting disciplines.
The ceremony, held in front of 10,000 spectators at the recently inaugurated University of Ghana Stadium, featured celebrities, musicians and sports men and women from 48 African countries who participated in the parade.
Parade
Countries that took part in the parade included Morocco, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon and Gambia.
The rest were Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sudan and host Ghana.
Showcase talent
In his address, President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the 13th African Games for generations to benefit.
He said Africa was blessed with a rich diversity, hence the need to cherish the unique contributions of participating countries who possessed different cultures, traditions and identity.
He said it was heart-warming to witness the role sports played in bringing the continent together.
“As you compete in the games in the coming days, remember that your efforts inspire countless individuals across the continent.
Strive for excellence, push your limits and showcase the immense talents that Africa possesses,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo urged participating countries to compete with integrity and sportsmanship, to honour the values of fair play and neutral respect in the competition.
He called on key players in the sports ecosystem to rally behind Ghana in making the Games a memorable one.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your dedication and determination in reaching this prestigious Games,” he said.
For his part, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, promised the rest of Africa that Ghana would deliver a competition that would be difficult to forget.