By Bockarie Allieu
232News
_____________________________
The president of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo in his opening speech at the opening ceremony of the 13th All Africa Games called on Africa leaders to use sports to unite Africa.
The opening ceremony took place at the University of Ghana Sports stadium. President Addo outlines that the All Africa was supposed to be held last year in August but due to certain circumstances beyond their control the games was postponed to March 2024.
After all, constrains and challenges, he said they are at the University of Ghana stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games, thanking all those concerns both in Ghana and outside who make it possible for the games to be held in Ghana for the first time in history.
The Africa Games formally known as the All-Africa Games or the Pan Africa Games are a continental multi-sports event held every four years organized by the African Union (AU) with the Association of Africa Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Associations of African Sports Confederation (AASC).
President Addo went on that the idea of hosting such games in Africa was an idea which their late President the great Kwami Nkruma came up with during the AU meeting but said unfortunately they are just hosting it now.
As such, he said they are making history under his regime. The first All Africa Games was hosted in 1965 in Brazzaville Congo,said President Addo.
Before this time, he said that history tells that Pierre de Coubertin, had proposed the first African Games to be held in Algiers, Algeria in 1925.
But the games were never organized. Four years later, Alexandria, Egypt had almost completed for the African Games of 1929 when the colonial powers stepped in to the cancel the games, weeks before they were to begin.
President Addo called on African leaders to use sports to unite Africa and maintain peace in the continent. Through sports ,he said almost all Africa countries are gathered in Ghana.
During the Games, he said the participating countries will meet with old friends make new friends and share ideals to develop sports in Africa. The national sports of Ghana, he said is football but with the various sports facilities now available he is sure Ghana will grow fast in developing other sports in the country.
He officially welcome all participating countries in Ghana and assured them of their peaceful stay in Ghana. Before his speech were other speakers like the Sports Minister of Ghana, Ghana NOC President, representative of ANOCA and others.
President Addo officially declared the All Games Open at the end of his speech.
The opening ceremony was also climax with performance of Ghanaian musicians and cultural displays.
