The Ghana National Armwrestling team, known as the Golden Arms, visited the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, following their gold medal victory at the World Armwrestling Championship in Moldova.
Breaking News! Ghana’s Grace Minta wins World Armwrestling Championship Gold in Moldova.
More details soon.#GhanaArmwrestling pic.twitter.com/ayHvaFWHzy
— Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF) (@ArmwrestlingGh) August 20, 2024
The visit aimed to express gratitude to the minister and his ministry for their ongoing support and to present the gold medal won by Grace Mintah.
The team was accompanied by key figures from the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, including President Charles Osei Asibey, Vice President Kofi Agyekum, General Secretary Jessy Agyapong, and a board member.
Team members present included Golden Arms Captain Edward Asamoah, Godwin Sackey, Blessed Abeka Nunoo, Mabel Yeboah, and the “Golden Girl,” Grace Mintah.
The officiating team, consisting of the only African referees at the World Championship, included Hussein Akueteh Addy, Nii Otoo Larkyne, and Abigail Fremah.
The Minister of Youth and Sports commended the team for their exceptional performance at the African Games, where they secured 41 medals, and their historic achievement at the World Armwrestling Championship.
“Let me congratulate you, Ghana Armwrestling, for your outstanding performance during the African Games. I had no challenge at all when the opportunity came for you to represent us again on the World Stage.
I thought it was an opportunity for us to give it to the athletes, so once they get there, the exposure. I didn’t even know they would go there to win a medal again, not to mention gold, so I want to once again congratulate you on behalf of the president, the entire team, and the gold medallist for bringing glory to our nation and for lifting our flag very high in Moldova.”
The Minister again pledged his support for wrestling and other less-funded sports.
“As government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we will continue to support the less sponsored sports, and wrestling happens to be one. So, we will continue to give you equitable support for all the lesser-known sports so that you can also exhibit the talent God has given you.”
He urged all federations to fully utilize the sports facilities and equipment acquired for the African Games, emphasizing the motto, “Let’s build tomorrow’s champions today.”
Charles Osei Asibey, the President of Ghana Armwrestling, requested the Minister’s assistance in securing a training centre for the federation to help identify and nurture more talent.
“Checking through my records, I don’t remember Ghana winning a World Championship gold medal, and this is unprecedented.
I feel that the ministry should help us celebrate not just wrestling but the gold medalist. Secondly, for the purposes of development, wrestling needs a training centre, primarily; it is not just Charles Osei Asibey or the board; we need a training centre.”
