Ghana Athletics react to shambolic organisation at African Championships

Officials from Ghana Athletics have responded after growing criticism over the organization of the ongoing 2026 CAA African Senior Athletics Championships intensified following a frightening pole vault incident at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.

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The alarming moment occurred on Day Two of the continental championships when a pole vaulter’s pole snapped mid-air during competition, causing the athlete to crash headfirst onto the track after missing the landing mat.

In a video shared by Sporty FM on X on Wednesday, 13 May, the athlete was seen accelerating towards the bar before planting the pole for take-off.

However, moments later, the pole suddenly broke into two pieces while he was airborne, leading to a terrifying fall that left spectators stunned.

Fortunately, the athlete appeared to escape serious injury and was later seen walking away with officials before preparing for another attempt.

The incident immediately sparked concern online, with many athletics fans questioning athlete safety standards at the championships, which are being held in Accra from Tuesday, 12 May, to Saturday, 17 May.

The pole vault scare is the latest controversy to hit the championships after several complaints emerged on the opening day regarding faulty timing systems in sprint races and problems with the starter’s gun.

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Speaking on the incident, Ghana Athletics Vice President Charles Osei-Asibey admitted there may have been issues with the equipment used during the competition.

“According to the International Competition Management, an athlete cannot bring their poles to the competition. You cannot do that. Many times, you are not even aware of the fabrication model or whatever. We have standard competition equipment that everyone uses,” Asibey told Ghana’s Sporty FM.

“The facility you saw did not come from the athlete; it was provided by competitors or the hosts. It cannot be from the athlete,” he continued.

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While careful not to directly blame organizers, Asibey suggested the damaged equipment could have been identified before the competition began.

“As for the equipment, I do not want to make any statement that would sound political, but the only thing I can say is that I feel that a day or two earlier, organizers would have realized that there was a problem with the pole, but we did not do that, and I do not want to blame anybody,” he added.

The ongoing championships have already attracted criticism from athletes and journalists over accommodation, food, internet access, and overall event management, with several participants describing the organization as below the standards expected for Africa’s premier athletics event.