Kumasi Mayor wants 2017 AFCON staged in the Garden City

Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Kojo Bonsu, is not scared of thinking big – for him, small minds think small.

Since assuming office in May 2013, the mayor has outlined ambitious projects to transform the socio-economic development of Kumasi. These include the planned installation of $1million CCTV cameras and the planting of a million trees in the metropolis.


But Kojo Bonsu has not stopped dreaming big. He believes the city of Kumasi can single handedly host the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continental football tournament.


“If we prepare a good programme proposal and get serious to champion the cause, we should be able to host the African Cup of Nations in Kumasi,” he told newly sworn-in executives of the Ashanti regional chapter of the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF).


The Mayor wants players in the hospitality industry to gear up for the possibility of hosting the tournament in the city.

Kumasi would need 16 standard hotels in place to accommodate the 16 participating countries.


Mr. Bonsu therefore wants all hands on deck to engage government to make his vision a reality.


“All the other smaller hotels will make money because the tournament will be concentrated in Kumasi,” he said. He added that the football tournament will offer opportunities for small businesses and drive the city’s development.


The Kumasi Mayor wants the staging of the football tourney to be part of activities to commemorate the 350 years of founding the city of Kumasi.