Japanese athletes face room-sharing blunders as well at home Asian Games

Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare, the former Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 13th African Games, has advised against comparing Ghana's expenditure on the recent multi-sport event with the cost of hosting the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). During a recent appearance before Parliament’s Sports Committee, Dr Ofosu-Asare stated that the direct comparison was inappropriate due to the differences in scale and nature between the two events.

The African Games, held in Accra in March 2024, saw 53 countries participating across 23 sporting disciplines, along with eight demonstration sports, while the AFCON featured 16 countries competing in a single sport. Dr Ofosu-Asare emphasized that the investment requirements for the African Games were far greater, encompassing not just the competition but also the multitude of sports, athletes, and facilities involved.

He cautioned that this was a common mistake made in Ghana, comparing the country unfavorably to the 2008 AFCON, which was a single-discipline event. The former LOC chairman's testimony before the committee is part of a broader effort to scrutinize the reported $250m expenditure on the Games and the financial management of the event.