ACCRA, Ghana — The 24th African Senior Athletics Championships came to a conclusion at the University of Ghana Stadium this week.
What was meant to be a successful debut for Ghana as the host nation turned into a series of shortfalls in event organisation.
The focus of the games shifted from elite athletic performances to a series of logistical and organizational complaints that have frustrated athletes, journalists, and officials alike.
The championships, which ran from May 12 to 17, were expected to build on the country’s previous staging of the 2023 African Games at the same venue.
Instead, the early days of competition were overshadowed by reports of inadequate facilities, technical failures, and hospitality shortfalls.
A Promising Build-Up Meets Harsh Reality
In the months leading up to the event, Ghanaian officials projected confidence. Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams emphasized that the country would draw on lessons from the 2023 African Games to deliver a smooth championship.
Local Organizing Committee members, including National Sports Authority officials, assured stakeholders that preparations were on track for athletes from across the continent.
The event’s opening ceremony featured vibrant cultural displays, and early competitions have produced notable performances, including gold for South Africa’s Aiden Smith in shot put, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles, and several other stars.
Yet off the track, the narrative was dominated by discontent.
Complaints From Athletes and Teams
Athletes and delegations voiced concerns over basic provisions. South African shot-putter Aiden Smith, a gold medalist, publicly highlighted limited food portions — including “half an egg” servings and restrictions on items like chicken.
There were also accommodation issues such as missing blankets, unreliable hot water, and inadequate supplies in some rooms.
Other teams reported transportation delays, scheduling confusion, and basic amenity shortfalls.
Technical problems further disrupted the competition. Reports include malfunctioning starting guns, broken pole-vault equipment that created safety scares, absent or delayed electronic timing and results displays, and confusion over event schedules.
These issues affected both competitors and spectators in the early rounds.
Media Frustrations and Tense Exchanges
Journalists covering the championships encountered significant hurdles of their own. Unstable or nonexistent internet in the media center, overcrowded tribunes filled with noisy fans, and difficulties accessing start lists and timely results have hampered coverage.
Tensions escalated during a press briefing when Ghana Athletics Association President Bawa Fuseini addressed — and at times clashed with — reporters over space constraints and operational challenges, noting limitations imposed by the stadium’s design.
Veronica Commey, a former journalist now serving as Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority and a key member of the Local Organizing Committee, found herself in an ironic position.
Previously vocal on sports organization matters, she issued public apologies for disruptions, particularly excessive noise affecting media operations, while assuring improvements.
On food-related complaints, Commey pushed back firmly, stating after personal inspections that adequate supplies were available and that some rationing allegations were unfounded or exaggerated.
Responses and Lingering Questions
Organizers acknowledged certain shortcomings and pledged fixes. The National Sports Authority issued apologies for opening-day issues and said measures were implemented to prevent recurrence.
Some delegations, including South Africa’s, reported that problems were addressed without major relocations.
Nevertheless, the complaints fueled broader criticism on Ghanaian social media and in local commentary, with some describing the event as embarrassing for a nation that positioned itself as a capable host.
Questions arose about resource allocation for a single-sport championship and whether expectations, heightened by the 2023 African Games success, were realistically met.
In the end, South Africa won the most medals at the competition with 20 (9 Gold, 3 Silver, and 8 Bronze).
Ghana, as the host nation, did not win any gold medals. Their final medal tally was 5 (1 Silver and 4 Bronze).
For Ghana, the event serves as a pointed reminder of the gap between ambitious hosting aspirations and on-the-ground execution.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
