Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has firmly rejected claims made by a South African athlete suggesting poor feeding and inadequate living conditions during the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships held in Accra.
Speaking to the media after appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Monday, May 18, the Minister insisted that athletes were properly catered for throughout the duration of the competition.
“Food was one of the things the LOC handled very well. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served on time, and there was always enough food,” he said.
His response follows allegations by South African shot put athlete Aiden Smith, who claimed that competitors experienced limited food portions and substandard accommodation during the championship staged at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
Addressing the specific concerns raised, Kofi Adams strongly refuted the claims that athletes were restricted in their dietary intake, stressing that no such policy or limitation existed.
“There was no provision asking athletes to survive on nine eggs. No federation informed the LOC that they were bringing athletes with special dietary needs, so no special arrangements were requested,” he explained.
The Minister further added that concerns about the nature of local cuisine, particularly its spiciness, were never formally communicated to the Local Organising Committee by any participating federation prior to or during the event.
The 24th African Senior Athletics Championships, which concluded on Sunday, May 17, brought together athletes from across the continent for six days of intense track and field competition at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium. Despite the off-track controversy, the event was widely regarded as a major continental showcase of athletic talent and organization.
Kofi Adams’ comments are aimed at clarifying the government’s position and defending Ghana’s hosting standards, as discussions continue over athlete welfare and event management following the conclusion of the championship.
