The Deputy Sports Minister, Perry Okudzeto has opened up on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected Ghana’s preparations towards hosting the 2023 African Games.

The Sports Ministry had begun the renovation of the various stadia across the country with works being carried out at the Baba Yara and Essipong Sports Stadia.

The works being carried out at the stadia had to been halted due to the lockdown which was imposed by the President Akufo-Addo to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the Deputy Sports Minister, the coronavirus pandemic has affected the scale of work and preparations towards the games.

“Coronavirus has affected us greatly in our preparations for the 2023 African games. It has prevented us from doing certain things. We are still pushing and finding ways to push the contractors to finish some of the projects and renovation work, he told Ohene-Bampoe Brenya on Happy Sports on Happy 98.9FM via Zoom.

He added that timelines given for the completion of the 10-multipurpose sports centres will not be met.

“The construction of the Multipurpose Sports Centres can’t be completed in July as planned because the workers are not working anymore due to the pandemic”

Ghana won the bid to host the games in 2019 after the African Games in Morocco.