Ghana is expected to field over 113 athletes for the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in July this year in Birmingham in the UK.

The country at the last Commonwealth Games in Australia presented 78 athletes.

Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif speaking to the press on Sunday revealed that currently 113 athletes have qualified so far and the country plans to field 120 athletes for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“The target is to field 110-120 athletes for this year’s Commonwealth Games compared to 78 athletes at the last Commonwealth Games in Australia and so far 113 athletes have qualified,” he noted.

He said the increase in the number of qualified athletes compared to the last Commonwealth Games is due to government investment in other sporting activities apart from football.

“So far, we have invested just under a year over 5 million Ghana cedis to provide opportunities for other athletes to have more time and also training opportunities to be able to participate and qualify for international programs,” he said.

Hockey (men’s and women’s teams), table tennis (men’s team), weightlifting (men’s and women’s), beach volleyball, para-cycling, para-lifting and athletics are the sports disciplines that have so far qualified for the Commonwealth Games.

2022 World Athletics Championship

Mustapha Ussif noted that three athletes have also qualified for the 2022 World Championship in Athletics in Oregon, USA.

The three athletes are; Benjamin Azamati for the 100m sprint, Joseph Paul Amoah for the 100m/200m sprint and Deborah Acquah for the long jump (women).

According to the minister, the number of qualified athletes could increase after the African championships in Mauritius from June 2 to 9 as well as the national championships in Cape Coast from Saturday June 17 to Sunday June 18.