Sprinter Asafa Powell, an Olympian and world champion, has expressed his support for Ghana’s bid to host the African Para Games.
The Games will be held for the first time in Accra, the nation’s capital, from September 3 to September 12.
Samson Deen, the president of the African Paralympic Committee, was praised by Powell, a member of Jamaica’s 4100 meters relay team that won gold in Rio 2016.
He was lauded for his efforts in offering athletes the option to compete at the tournament and bringing attention to Paralympic sport on the continent.
Powell was informed by Deen that he is happy to collaborate with him to promote the #WalkInMyShoe project, a digital campaign designed to reduce the gap between individuals with disabilities and those without.
Ben Nunoo Mensah, the president of Ghana’s National Olympic Committee, was also present at the meeting, which was centered on the growing development of parasport in Africa.
Powell also participated in the winning relay teams in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and Berlin, respectively.
The 40-year-old also won both individual and relay gold in the 100-meter events in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
36 nations are expected to compete at the Games in the sports of amputee football, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, volleyball, and powerlifting.
To put on the tournament, the host country has allocated $8.5 million (£7 million/€7.9 million), with money coming from broadcast rights, sponsorship, and the government.
The tournament was originally planned to follow the postponed Accra 2023 African Games, which were to be held from August 4 to 19.
Due to Ghana’s severe economic crisis, new dates have been planned for March 8 to 23 in 2019.
Prior to the postponement, John Mahama, a former president of Ghana, spearheaded calls for the event’s cancellation; however, Ofosu Asare countered that it would cost Ghana just as much to host the Games as it would not host them.
