H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana,
Honourable Ministers in charge of Sport,
Amb. Minata SAMATE CESSOUMA, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development,
Mr Moustapha BAARAF, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees, ANOCA and Co-Organiser,
Mr Ahmed Nasser Moustapha KAMEL, President of the Association of African Sports Confederations and Co-Organiser,
Esteemed Members of the African Sport Movement, friends and fans around the world;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Welcome to the 13th Edition of the African Games and the first ever in Ghana!
It was time that the African Games come to the land of Kwame Nkrumah, the cradle of panafricanism.
Allow me to commend and thank H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa- Akufo Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana, who has provided extraordinary leadership and personal commitment to ensure that Ghana delivers a successful edition of the African Games. The vast political, financial and material Investment that Ghana has deployed, is yet another testament to your unwavering commitment, Mr President, to the ideals of African unity, ideals that are more urgent now than ever before.
I want to also thank the entire team of the Local Organizing Committee Accra 2023 - excellently led by Hon. Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sport of Ghana.
Special mention also goes to the co-organisers , The Association of National Olympic Committees, ANOCA, the Association of African Sports Confederations alongside the African Union under the stewardship of AU Commissioner Minata Samate, for your commitment and hard work to ensure that African Games 2023 is successful.
There can be no successful African Games without volunteers, we are all grateful to the thousands of dedicated volunteers who are being so generous with their time, their energy and their welcoming smiles. Thank you to you all.
Allow me now to call upon all stakeholders in the organization and management of the African Games to ensure that the interests of the athletes remain at the center of all that you do during these Games, in line with the African Games Governing Instruments adopted by the Assembly of African Head of States and Governments.
The African Union would like to see more investment in sports infrastructure in communities and schools to give all young people an opportunity to reach their potential.
I commend all athletes who have earned a place at these Games. Your talent, your dedication and commitment brought you here. You have earned yourselves an opportunity to become true ambassadors of Africa. However, that honour is not determined by winning medals, it is determined by how you respect the rules and your fellow competitors; character counts far more than medals.
Most importantly, these African Games are also an opportunity to highlight the values of fair play, equality, discipline, inclusion, perseverance, tolerance, and teamwork; these are all key for building character and peaceful societies.
African athletes, you have always honoured the Continent in your achievements. In fact, this year alone, the African continent has performed extremely well in international sports competitions - from the Rugby World Cup Paris 2023, FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the World Athletics Championship in Budapest to mention a few.
It is fulfilling to see you, young people from all corners of our Continent living together in harmony. You are in competition with each other and yet you share meals. You want to achieve your best and yet you understand each other. You want to win and yet you respect each other.
As you are all our ambassadors and role models, I encourage you to play clean sports, demonstrate sportsmanship and Inspire the next generation. Sports is a powerful platform for human connection. I see It here today.
I am particularly happy that today’s opening ceremony falls on International Women’s Day. On this day that reminds us of the urgency to fight for the equal representation and participation of women and men in all spheres of life, I am extremely happy to note that the upcoming Paris Olympic Games will have full gender parity for all competing athletes
Investing in women and accelerating progress is this year’s UN theme for International Women’s Day. I call on all AU Member States to accelerate investment in favour of women in all sectors, including Sports. In fact, African female athletes, many of them are here, have set the needed example, we must not fall behind.
Indeed, investing in Sport is one of the best ways to implement our Agenda 2063. Representing over 60% of Africa’s population, healthy and well educated young Africans, YOU , are the Continent’s best vehicle to transform Africa. . A healthy mind in a healthy body as the Greek philosopher Hippocrates, once said, is the basis for any positive human development
And as I see you here in this stadium tonight, with your vibrant energy, and enthusiasm, I know that with you ,the Africa we want, is no distant dream. Because, YES, WE CAN!
Long Live Ghana,
Long Live the African games
And Long live AFRICA!
