Powell supports Ghana’s hosting of first African Paralympic Games

Former sprint champion Asafa Powell has commended Samson Deen, the president of the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC-Ghana) and president of the African Paralympic Committee, for making para-sports a focus on the African continent.

About 50 African countries are expected to participate in the continental showpiece.

This bold enterprise will give athletes and NPC-Ghana the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the first-ever African Paralympic Games, which will be staged from 3 to 12 September in Accra.

In a closed-door meeting, Deen said the Paralympic office would like to cooperate with Powell to promote the #WalkInMyShoe project. This digital campaign will aim to bridge the gap between non-disabled people and those with disabilities.

Powell was led by the president of the Ghana National Olympic Committee, Ben Nunoo Mensah, to solidify the need for para-sports promotion on the African continent.

Ghana will host this first border-shifting multi-sport Paralympic event with seven sport codes, namely para-powerlifting, para-volleyball, goalball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball and amputee football.

Deen said: “The government has been committed to offering the necessary support and logistics that will make hosting of the African Paralympic Games in 2023 possible.

“We will work to ensure a smooth and successful Games and give participants a memorable experience.”

The West African nation’s local organising committee has confirmed it has a budget of US$8.5 million to stage the event, with the funding coming from media rights, sponsorships and the Ghanaian government.

The last African Games were held in Rabat, Morocco, in 2019.