Ghana’s government has given the green light for contractors to complete construction of the facilities being built for the 2023 African Games in Accra.
The West African nation is currently heavily in debt and last week a $3 billion (£2.5 billion/€2.8 billion) bailout had to be agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help stabilise the economy.
But Ghanian-based construction company Consar have now been told by Parliament to complete the facilities planned for the Games, due to open on August 4.
This includes finishing modernising the University of Ghana Stadium, which is due to be the centrepiece of the Games, hosting the athletics, and was originally due to be handed over by the end of this year.
The venue, also known as the Legon Stadium, will now be completed by February, it is hoped.
Plans to build a new stadium for the event were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funds have also been released to finish the construction of the Borteyman Sports Complex, which is expected to host as many as 11 sports during the African Games, which is scheduled to finish on August 19.
Among the sports the Complex is set to stage is aquatics, football, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting and tennis.
The news will be a relief to organisers after fears grew for Ghana’s ability to host the Games.
In October, former Ghanaian President John Mahama had urged his country to pull out of staging the African Games “if it is not too late”.
The country is facing more than 40 per cent inflation, growing debt and a sharp decline in its cedi currency since the start of the year.
IMF officials have been in the capital Accra this month, where they discussed support for the country’s policy and reform plans with authorities.
Ghana was awarded the Games in October 2018 and more than 5,000 athletes from over 50 countries are expected to compete.
Source; insidethegames.org