African Games Medal Table: Where Ghana Ranks Among Africa’s Sporting Powers

Every four years, the African Games—formerly known as the All-Africa Games—bring together the continent’s finest athletes in a celebration of sporting excellence. As the largest multi-sport event on the African continent, the Games serve as a crucial barometer of athletic prowess, offering a unique opportunity to compare nations across dozens of disciplines, from athletics and swimming to boxing and armwrestling.

For Ghana, the African Games hold special significance. The nation’s participation spans the entire history of the competition, dating back to the inaugural Games in Brazzaville in 1965 . But where exactly does Ghana rank among the 54 nations that have competed? The answer requires examining both the historical all-time medal table and the most recent edition of the Games, which Ghana had the honor of hosting in 2024.

The All-Time Medal Table: Ghana’s Historical Standing

When examining the cumulative results of all African Games from 1965 through 2023, Ghana has established itself as a solid mid-tier power on the continent. According to the comprehensive all-time medal table, Ghana ranks 8th overall among African nations .

Here is the breakdown of the top 10 in the all-time medal standings (1965–2023):

Ghana’s all-time haul of 55 gold, 83 silver, and 111 bronze medals reflects a consistent, if not dominant, presence across the Games’ history . Notably, Ghana sits ahead of traditional athletic powers like Ethiopia and Morocco in the all-time standings—an impressive feat given Ethiopia’s dominance in long-distance running.

The 13th African Games (Accra 2024): Ghana’s Best-Ever Performance

The most recent edition of the African Games, held in Accra in March 2024, represented a watershed moment for Ghanaian sports. As the host nation, Ghana delivered its best-ever performance in the competition’s history .

The final medal table for the 13th African Games saw the familiar powers occupying the top spots, but Ghana made significant strides:

Ghana finished 6th overall with an impressive total of 68 medals—a haul that shattered previous national records .

Ghana’s Record-Breaking Performance

The 2024 Games were historic for Ghana in multiple ways:

1. Highest Medal Count Ever: Ghana’s 68 medals represent the first time the nation has surpassed the 30-medal mark in a single edition of the Games. Remarkably, this total accounts for 93% of the medals Ghana won in the combined 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 Games .

2. Most Gold Medals in Two Decades: With 19 gold medals, Ghana achieved its highest gold tally in over 20 years. The previous best was seven gold medals at the 1973 edition .

3. Historic Football Double: Ghana became the first country in African Games history to win gold medals in both the men’s and women’s football tournaments at the same edition. The Black Princesses defeated arch-rivals Nigeria 2-1 in Cape Coast, while the men’s team secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Uganda in the final at Accra Sports Stadium .

The Sports That Delivered for Ghana

Armwrestling emerged as Ghana’s unlikely goldmine, contributing a staggering 41 medals to the national tally—including eight gold, 19 silver, and 14 bronze . The sport, which has seen remarkable growth in Ghana in recent years, proved to be the host nation’s most successful discipline.

Boxing, Ghana’s traditional strength, delivered seven medals, including four gold, one silver, and two bronze . Athletics contributed six medals, while weightlifting (3), taekwondo (3), swimming (2), hockey (2), and volleyball (1) also added to the tally .

Egypt’s Unprecedented Dominance

No discussion of the African Games medal table is complete without acknowledging Egypt’s extraordinary supremacy. At the 2024 Games, Egypt achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first nation to surpass 100 gold medals in a single edition, finishing with 101 gold—more than Nigeria and South Africa combined . Egypt’s total of 189 medals was nearly 70 medals ahead of second-place Nigeria .

This dominance extends to the all-time table, where Egypt’s 1,827 total medals place them in a league of their own .

Legacy of Hosting: Infrastructure and National Pride

Beyond the medals, Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games left a lasting legacy. The construction of the Borteyman Sports Complex—featuring an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, and a badminton dome—represents a generational investment in sports infrastructure . The University of Ghana Stadium, a project initiated two decades earlier, was finally completed and served as the main venue for athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies .

As one analyst noted, this was “the first time, since our independence, that Ghana has built an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool equipped with trial or warm-up pool” .

Conclusion From GH Sports News

Where does Ghana rank among African countries in the African Games? 8th in the all-time standings and 6th in the most recent edition—a position that reflects both historical consistency and recent momentum.

The 2024 Games in Accra marked a turning point. With a record medal haul, historic football double, and the development of world-class sports infrastructure, Ghana demonstrated that it is not merely a host but a rising force in African sport. As the nation looks ahead to future editions, the foundation laid in 2024 offers reason for optimism that Ghana’s ranking among Africa’s sporting powers will continue to climb.

African Games Medal Table: How Ghana Ranks Among African Countries | All-Time & 2024 Results

FAQs

Q1: What is Ghana’s overall ranking in the all-time African Games medal table?

Ghana ranks 8th overall in the all-time African Games medal table from 1965 to 2023, with a total of 55 gold, 83 silver, and 111 bronze medals for a combined total of 249 medals .

Q2: How did Ghana perform at the 2024 African Games in Accra?

Ghana achieved its best-ever performance, finishing 6th overall with 19 gold, 29 silver, and 20 bronze medals for a total of 68 medals. This was the first time Ghana surpassed 30 medals in a single edition of the Games .

Q3: Which country has won the most medals in African Games history?

Egypt is the all-time leader by a significant margin, with 1,827 total medals (753 gold, 551 silver, 523 bronze) across 13 editions. Egypt also won the 2024 Games with a record 101 gold medals .

Q4: What was Ghana’s most successful sport at the 2024 African Games?

Armwrestling was Ghana’s most successful discipline, contributing 41 medals (eight gold, 19 silver, and 14 bronze) to the national tally .

Q5: Did Ghana win any gold medals in football at the 2024 African Games?

Yes. Ghana achieved a historic double, winning gold in both the men’s and women’s football tournaments. Ghana became the first country ever to win both football gold medals at a single edition of the African Games. The women’s team defeated Nigeria 2-1, while the men’s team beat Uganda 1-0 in the final .

Q6: How does Ghana’s 2024 performance compare to previous editions?

Ghana’s 68 medals in 2024 represent 93% of the total medals the country won in the 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 Games combined. The 19 gold medals are the highest the country has achieved in over two decades .

Q7: Which African nations typically dominate the medal table?

The traditional powerhouses are Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, and Tunisia. These five nations have consistently occupied the top five positions across most editions of the Games .

Q8: What infrastructure legacy did Ghana gain from hosting the 2024 Games?

Ghana’s hosting of the 13th African Games resulted in the construction of the Borteyman Sports Complex, featuring an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, and a badminton dome. The University of Ghana Stadium was also completed, and existing stadia in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast were rehabilitated

Source: Ghana Sports News