The Ministry of Youth and Sports Office has made it clear that cars used for the upcoming African Games will be rented, not purchased.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) “intends to procure” 332 vehicles for use during the Games, as revealed in the Transport Management Handbook. This announcement follows that revelation.
Several sports competitions will take place at the University of Ghana Stadium and Borteyman Sports Complex during the Games, which take place from March 8 to March 23.
For the African Games, however, the Sports Minister’s office has announced that cars from manufacturers like Toyota and Volkswagen will be rented rather than purchased.
29 Landcruisers, 3 Toyota Prados, 106 Saloon Cars, 78 Wagon Cars, 55 Team Marco Polo Buses, 30 Ayalolo buses, 26 minibuses, and 5 trucks will be used for the upcoming three-week competition.
The cost of hosting the Games has been closely scrutinized in the run-up to the competition. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has criticized the LOC for an increase in the operating expense budget.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, the budget approved by the Ghanaian Parliament was 100 million Ghanaian Cedis, but it has since increased to 602 million Ghanaian Cedis ($48 million).
Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia were among the first countries to arrive in Accra with contingents representing competing nations.
