Ghana’s sports ministry has held talks with the governing body of the Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Games Federation, over the possibility of hosting the 2026 Games.
According to sports minister Mustapha Ussif, who spoke to GHOne TV, the preliminary discussions had been positive.
‘’In fact, the President of the Commonwealth Games was in Ghana. He has visited our facilities and held a meeting with me. I had the opportunity of even attending some of their meetings,” Ussif said.
‘’And their programmes, they want an African nation. They said it is time for Africa to host the Commonwealth Games, and Ghana, we have the facilities now.”
The 2026 Games is currently without a host city after Malaysia rejected the CGF’s offer, which included £100m in supporting funds.
In an official statement, Malaysia said its decision was due to time constraints, costs and an insufficient offer of funding.
The CGF had asked Malaysia to step in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew, citing ballooning costs.
While Malaysia and the Australian City of Victoria consider the Games to be too expensive, Ussif has said it will not cost a fortune to do it.
He stated, “It is not going to cost us as much as it cost us to organise the African Games if we decide as a country to go for the Commonwealth Games.
‘’The beauty of the Commonwealth Games is that they will even give you funding that will come from Commonwealth Games Secretariat, unlike the African Games.’’
