African Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships: Ghana finishes second, grabs 13 medals
Ghana’s next generation of lifters announced themselves in style at the 2025 African Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships, hauling home an impressive 13 medals to finish second overall behind regional powerhouse, Nigeria.
The five-day competition, staged at the buzzing Ga-Mashie Hall of the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra, wrapped up last Thursday evening with Ghana’s teenagers leaving fans and dignitaries beaming with pride.
In total, the hosts secured six glittering golds and seven hard-fought bronzes — a tally that underlined both resilience and promise on home soil.
Nigeria tops
Nigeria topped the medals table with nine golds, but Ghana’s youthful squad, drilled by national head coach Michael Johnson Abotsi, captured hearts with their fearless performances.
The display earned warm praise from Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, who hailed Ghana’s success as he declared the championships closed.
Two names stood tallest for Ghana: 19-year-olds Emmanuel Amo Boateng and Abdul Salim, who each powered their way to three gold medals.
Boateng set the tone in front of an ecstatic home crowd, storming to glory in the men’s 71kg category by sweeping the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall titles. His victory was made all the sweeter after overcoming a serious injury just eight months ago.
“It hasn’t been easy in training, but with the right equipment and great coaching, I felt ready,” Boateng told reporters.
“After the injury last December, I needed to prove to myself that I can still do it — and today I did.”
Salim, equally relentless, owned the 110kg class by sweeping all three golds in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total.
His dominance brought the crowd to its feet, confirming Ghana’s growing pedigree in the heavier divisions.
There were also podium moments for the country’s rising female stars. Fifteen-year-old Akos Agozi showed immense courage to win four bronze medals in both junior and youth 58kg, while 16-year-old Sherifa Halidu snatched three bronzes across the divisions. Emmanuel Nii Allotey chipped in with another bronze in the men’s snatch, further swelling the medal haul.
Ghana earns praise
In his closing remarks, Mr Adams saluted the lifters’ efforts and lauded Ghana Weightlifting Federation President, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, for masterminding a seamless tournament.
He pledged the government’s backing to chase even bigger hosting rights, including the African Senior Championships and the IWF World Junior and Youth Championships, with the long-awaited Sports Fund Bill now nearing Parliament.
