The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the series of shameful incidents that marred Ghana’s hosting and participation in the ongoing African Games.
In a statement issued by the party in response to reports of South Africa’s decision to withdraw the men’s and women’s hockey teams from the competition, citing the substandard conditions of Ghana’s hockey arena, the NDC demanded, among other things, the resignation and/or dismissal of the Minister of Youth and Sports for gross incompetence, which the party said caused “this monumental embarrassment to the nation”.
Also Read: South Africa pulls out of Africa Hockey Games due to substandard facilities and ill-prepared hosts
The NDC is also demanding the dissolution of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the ongoing All African Games, a forensic audit of the budget and expenditure on the preparation and staging of the Games and a televised parliamentary inquiry into the expenditure and staging his games.
The party cites Ghanaian Cycling Champion, Michael Naaba, who was forced to withdraw from the cycling race after his personal bike broke down during the race, as adding to the embarrassment.
See also: Photos from Team Ghana’s swimming competition at the 13th African Games
In addition, Ghana’s swimming team withdrew from the 4×100 relay final under unclear circumstances, contributing to a growing sense of frustration among Ghanaian athletes.
The NDC expressed dismay at the situation, especially in light of the significant financial investments made by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. According to the statement, an impressive $195 million was allocated for pre-Games preparations, while an additional $48 million was earmarked for logistical support by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC).
Sammy Gyamfi Esq., the National Communications Officer of the NDC, criticized the government for what he described as “outrageous” spending that has brought nothing but shame to the nation. He argued that the incident is symptomatic of the government’s incompetence and corruption, tarnishing Ghana’s reputation on the international stage.
In response to the debacle, the NDC called for immediate action, including the resignation or sacking of the Minister of Youth and Sports for what they described as “gross incompetence”.
As Ghana grapples with the fallout from these sports fiascos, the NDC has vowed to pursue the matter further, promising to revisit the scandal under a future NDC/Mahama government. In the meantime, they stand in solidarity with the people.
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