Ghana wants to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games

After delays and rejection from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and other nations, the 2026 Commonwealth Games are set to be awarded to a host in May, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)  following an Executive Board meeting.

“The Commonwealth Games Federation is pleased to confirm that it is considering multiple proposals to Host the 2026 Games,” a statement read.

“Significant progress has been made and we are excited by the early concepts, which aim to reset and reframe the Games.”

No potential hosts have been named but the CGF said they are working “collaboratively” with relevant Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA) and have mutual agreements to “keep their proposals confidential while this process is ongoing.”

A similar declaration was made last year with a promise to name a host “early in the new year,” but nothing concrete emerged.

Now the CGF has offered any host nation £100 million (USD 126 million) to stage the 2026 event on short notice, using proceeds from the penalty levied on Victoria after that Australian state backed out of the Games last year.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif said his nation is ready to step in after successfully hosting the African Games in 2023.

“The president of the Commonwealth Games was in Ghana,” Ussif told GHOne TV.

“He has visited our facilities and held a meeting with my good self. I even had the opportunity of even attend some of their meetings.

“And their programs, they want the African nation. They said it is time for Africa to host the Commonwealth Games and Ghana, we have the facilities now.”

Durban in South Africa had been elected to be the first African nation to host the Games in 2022 but was later stripped of that honor when milestone payments were missed. That triggered a yearlong downward spiral for the CGA that has resulted in the current predicament.

Birmingham in England had originally targeted hosting in 2026 but agreed to step in earlier and was elected to fill that 2022 gap leading to a successful Games. That left no bidders for 2026, despite an exclusive offer made to Hamilton in Canada that was ultimately rejected.

Victoria then came forward and was chosen to host in 2026 without opposition.

But things unraveled quickly last year when the state premier suggested costs were skyrocketing, more than doubling from initial estimates of $2.6 billion (USD 1.76 million), and he canceled plans to move forward despite a costly cancelation penalty of AUS $380 million ($244 million).

With little time to spare, the CGF is exploring several options.