The Ghana Athletics Association have launched a training programme for coaches and technical officials to help prepare them for the 2023 African Games ©GAA

A training programme for coaches and technical officials has been launched by the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) for the 2023 African Games in the country.

The programme, launched in December, is expected to run until November after the GAA received certification from World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).

Bawah Fuseni, general secretary of the GAA, revealed they had partnered with World Athletics and CAA to launch the initiative aimed at helping improve coaches and technical officials in the build-up to the Games, the first time that they held in Ghana.

"With the concurrence from World Athletics and CAA and in consultation with the Organising Committee through its chief operating officer Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, the GAA is resuming implementation of series coaching and officiating courses around the country between," he told News Ghana.

"What is encouraging for athletics in Ghana is that despite the lengthy list on World Athletics and CAA support to organise level one and two officiating courses, Ghana’s request was fast tracked.

"Permission was granted to organise level one officiating courses in February 2021 and level two in November 2021."

Ghana's 4x100 metres relay team won one of the country's two gold medals at the 2019 African Games in Rabat ©GOC
Ghana's 4x100 metres relay team won one of the country's two gold medals at the 2019 African Games in Rabat ©GOC

Fuseni added the GAA has had preliminary consultation with Owusu-Ansah about helping provide technical support for the Games in assistance with World Athletics and CAA.

Athletics was Ghana’s most successful sport at the last African Games, in Rabat in 2019.

They won a total of four medals, including gold in the women’s high jump for Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah and the men’s 4x100 metres relay team.

Ghana was awarded the Games in October 2018 and more than 5,000 athletes from over 50 countries are expected to compete.

Final dates and sports are still to be announced for the event, which is expected to be held in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.