ACCRA 2023 – Prez. Akufo-Addo’s Full Speech At The Official Launch Of The African Games Logo, Mascot
ADDRESS BY H. E. NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO DURING THE OUTDOORING OF THE MASCOT, LOGO AND WEBSITE FOR THE 13TH AFRICAN GAMES, ACCRA 2023. 16TH DECEMBER 2021, AICC.
Hon. Minister for Youth and Sports
Members of Parliament present
Nii Mei and Naa Mei
Distinguished Invited Guests
Executive Chairman and Members of the LOC
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
1. I feel highly honoured to be invited by the LOC, under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the launch of the Logo and Mascot of the LOC of the 13th African Games to be staged on our soil.
2. This Games is a tool for social cohesion and youth empowerment.
3. The games does not only put happiness and smiles on faces of millions of our citizens but also enhances our culture and peace and fair play. Further, such games contribute to the promotion of the Olympic Spirit and stand as a major platform for African athletes.
4. The game is therefore a milestone in the preparation of the Olympic Games as they are an opportunity for our athletes to express and realise their potentials.
5. It is precisely against this background that I directed the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports to bid and host the 2023 African Games.
6. As far back in 1965, the First African Games, then called All African Games were held in Brazzaville, Congo. It involved Thirty (30) African countries and about Two Thousand Five Hundred athletes and officials. Ghana participated in the First African Games, making this nation a Founding Member of the African Games.
7. Since 1965, the African Games have been held on Twelve (12) different occasions by Nine (9) African countries. Algeria, Congo Brazzaville and Nigeria have hosted the African Games on two occasions.
8. Ghana, a founding member of the African Games, and a key player in the socio-economic and political affairs in Africa, has never hosted and organised the biggest sporting event in Africa – The African Games.
9. THIS IS OUR TIME
10. Come 2023, Ghana will be ready to welcome Fifty-Four (54) African countries, about Five Thousand (5,000) athletes, Two-Thousand accompanying officials, One Thousand International journalists, foreign dignitaries and spectators. I take this opportunity to welcome the whole world to Ghana in 2023 to ‘Experience the African Dream.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
11. The outdooring of the Logo, Mascot and Website for the 13th African Games, Accra 2023 today, is therefore to cement the commitment of my Government and the people of Ghana, to host and organise the biggest sporting event in Africa, come 2023. The launch of this logo will pave the way to vigorously market the Games and do serious business with the Games’ marks and symbols.
12. I am told that the Logo and Mascot are registered trademarks. It presupposes that any unauthorised use, unauthorised reproduction, imitation, counterfeiting, or modification of any of the symbols will be prohibited by law.
13. Every event or sports organization needs an up-to-date website. The 2023 African Games website will stand out in a way that makes it easy for visitors to digest detailed information on the competitions, upcoming events, preparation of the various federations and other nations, results and schedules about the Games.
14. Today’s event gives me the conviction that notwithstanding the time lost by the devastating effect of COVID-19, the Local Organising Committee is on the path to deliver a very memorable African Games in 2023.
15. Again, let me reiterate that this is Ghana’s time as one of the founding nations of the African Games. We are ready to offer Africa an exceptional event that will offer memories to last a lifetime for all contingents and dignitaries. We offer an edition of the Games that will reflect Youth, Culture and Sports and we extend an invitation to you all to come to Ghana for the experience of a lifetime. I promise you that we shall take the rest of Africa by storm.
16. COME EXPERIENCE THE AFRICAN DREAM IN GHANA
17. On this note, I have the singular honour to declare the 13th African Games official Logo, Mascot and Website duly launched.
God Bless our Homeland Ghana.
THANK YOU
