Armwrestling: Golden Arms honoured for continental success
Ghana’s national armwrestling team, Golden Arms, received a rousing commendation from the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, during a courtesy visit to the ministry following their impressive outing at the 14th Africa Armwrestling Championship held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Led by officials of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), the delegation presented their haul of 53 medals won across both left-arm and right-arm categories as a token of appreciation to the ministry for its continued support.
Ghana placed third overall, reaffirming its status as a continental powerhouse in the fast-rising sport.
Armwrestling's ascent
Addressing the team, Mr Adams praised armwrestling’s rapid growth despite the sport receiving relatively limited resources.
He described the discipline as “one of the fastest-growing federations in Ghana” and recalled the team’s unforgettable performance at the 13th African Games, a feat that had impressed him even before assuming office.
“Your dedication has made armwrestling a beacon of hope for lesser-known sports in Ghana. We are closely monitoring your progress ahead of the upcoming continental games in Egypt,” the minister stated.
Mr Adams urged heads of the country’s security services to recruit talented athletes from the sport into their ranks, reinforcing armwrestling's role in national development.
He further revealed that his ministry, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was exploring the necessary steps to advocate the inclusion of emerging sports such as armwrestling in future Olympic Games.
Broader support
The minister pledged the government's sustained backing for the sport and called on corporate Ghana to throw its weight behind federations striving to lift Ghana’s flag high on the global stage.
In response, GAF President, Charles Osei-Asibey, expressed appreciation for the minister’s commitment to the sport’s growth and highlighted the team’s key challenge—a lack of a dedicated training centre—which he said hindered preparations for major tournaments.
“We’ve made remarkable progress, but the absence of a specialised training facility is holding us back,” Mr Osei-Asibey lamented. “However, with the kind of support the Minister is pushing for, we’re confident Ghana will continue to dominate.”
He lauded the minister’s advocacy for athletes’ recruitment into security services, describing it as a critical step towards strengthening the sport’s grassroots and elite levels.
Since its formation in 2016, the Golden Arms have amassed a staggering 405 international medals in less than 20 championships. — GNA
