President of Ghana Athletics, Bawah Fuseini, has underscored the critical need for thorough testing of event facilities and equipment ahead of the upcoming African Games. He emphasized the importance of ensuring readiness for the prestigious competition.
Ghana Athletics has tentatively scheduled February 24 – 28, 2024, for the National Invitational Students Athletics Championship (NISAC) at the University of Ghana, the center for the field and track events. The event’s success is paramount in determining the overall readiness for the African Games.
In light of concerns about a possible postponement of the NISAC event, Bawah stressed that its success is crucial to the successful organization of the African Games, especially the track events. The school sports event will serve as a test run for the facilities, including the grandprix elite electronic timing system that the government purchased for the games.
The African Games are set to start on March 8, 2024. With the NISAC event concluding on February 28, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and contractors will have a little over a week to fix any identified issues. Bawah emphasized that postponing the event to a later date would have a serious adverse effect on the overall success of the competition.
Ghana Athletics has trained about 100 technical and officiating officials for the Games and taken them through practicals at the Open Championships held in Cape Coast. However, officials must undergo not less than three practical sessions to be certified to officiate international competitions.
Bawah also highlighted that the school championships are not just about the competitions, but also about training and testing the officials and the newly acquired equipment and facilities. Testing the equipment and facilities before the games is imperative for ensuring a successful and well-organized competition.
It is clear that the upcoming NISAC event will serve as a crucial milestone in ensuring the readiness and success of the African Games. The testing and training of officials, as well as the thorough evaluation of the facilities and equipment, will play a significant role in the overall success of the prestigious competition.
