The Ghana Swimming Association has announced Ghana’s withdrawal from hosting the 2026 African Swimming Championships, citing unresolved governance challenges and insufficient institutional backing.
The competition was scheduled to be held in Accra from May 5 to 10, 2026, after Ghana secured the hosting rights in Cairo in April 2025.
In a statement, the Association said preparations for the event had been “significantly undermined” by attempts to link internal electoral disputes to the hosting process.
It further disclosed that the National Sports Authority had consistently pushed for the adoption of certain guidelines, which the Association argues are inconsistent with its constitution.
Despite engaging stakeholders and making efforts to resolve the impasse, the GSA noted that critical steps—such as the establishment of a Local Organising Committee—were delayed.
“This refusal is further demonstrated by the sequence of events that followed,” the statement said.
The Association described the withdrawal as a last resort after exhausting all avenues to secure the support required to successfully host the championship.
It apologised to participating countries and stakeholders for any inconvenience caused and reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding trust and strengthening the development of swimming in Ghana.
