Ben Nunoo Mensah, the outgoing President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), has strongly urged the Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, to take a bold step and bid for the 2028 Commonwealth Youth Games.
His call comes as he emphasizes the critical need for Ghana to capitalize on its newly completed sports facilities, particularly the Borteyman Sports Complex, to ensure that they do not fall into disrepair.
The Borteyman Sports Complex, which was completed in 2024 for the African Games, has yet to host a major sporting event.
According to Nunoo Mensah, the facility risks rapid deterioration if not used regularly.
He warned that without consistent use, the complex could deteriorate much quicker than expected.
The GOC President shared his concerns on JoySports, stating, “If we don’t take advantage of the facility we have in Borteyman and ensure that it is used for at least one tournament every three months, it will deteriorate quickly.”
Nunoo Mensah further argued that Ghana possesses all the necessary infrastructure to successfully host the prestigious Commonwealth Youth Games.
“We have enough facilities to host the Commonwealth Youth Games. I would want the Sports Minister to be bold enough and say we are going to push for the next Commonwealth Youth Games,” he said.
He further praised Ghana’s readiness to host the event, adding, “Ghana can comfortably host it. We have the hotels, the transport system that works, we have the facilities, and for me, I think we should take advantage of the facilities we have.”
The 2028 Commonwealth Youth Games, which will bring together young athletes from across the Commonwealth, presents an opportunity for Ghana to showcase its sporting infrastructure and international event-hosting capabilities.
Nunoo Mensah’s call comes at a time when the country’s sports facilities, built for the African Games, need to be kept in use to maintain their quality and relevance.
By advocating for the 2028 Youth Games bid, Nunoo Mensah believes that Ghana can continue to develop its sports sector while boosting its global profile in the process.
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, has yet to respond to this bold proposal, but Nunoo Mensah’s call puts pressure on the government to take full advantage of the infrastructure built for the African Games, which otherwise risks being underutilized.
-BY Issah Olegor
