Accra: Deputy Director General of the NSA, Veronica Commey, has dismissed reports suggesting organisers of the African Senior Athletics Championships provided the pole vault equipment that snapped during competition in Accra.
According to Ghana Web, the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, sparked criticism from fans and observers after a pole vault athlete's vault broke mid-attempt during the championships at the University of Ghana Stadium. Following the incident, reports circulated online claiming the broken vault had been supplied by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Ghana Athletics Association, raising further concerns about equipment standards at the competition.
However, speaking at a press conference at the end of day three of the championships on Thursday, May 14, 2026, Commey strongly rejected the narrative and clarified that athletes were using their own personal vaults. 'It has come to the attention of the LOC a reportage that the vault that snapped during the pole vault event was provided by the organizers. I would like to categorically and firmly state that that narrative is completely false," she said.
Commey further explained that organisers were not responsible for supplying vault poles to competitors at the event. 'The LOC did not provide vaults for athletes and all vaults being used at the championship are owned by the individual athletes,' she added. The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny over organisational issues at the championships, with complaints ranging from internet problems and scheduling confusion to concerns over logistics and athlete welfare.