Armwrestling has proven its worth – Sports Minister Kofi Adams commends GAF

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has praised the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF) for its exceptional leadership and consistent results.

The Minister made these remarks when the leadership of Ghana Armwrestling, led by President Charles Osei Asibey, called on him to congratulate and welcome him to his new role.

Adams indicated that the GAF had demonstrated quality leadership, which had been instrumental in promoting the sport and achieving success.

He attributed the federation's achievements to its strategic planning, effective management, and collaboration with stakeholders.

The minister was particularly amazed by how fast the sport had grown since 2016, especially with regard to how Ghanaians have moved to serve on both the continental and global stages.

"I am impressed by the progress made by the GAF, and I must say that I am amazed by how quickly the sport has grown, especially in terms of Ghanaian representation on the continent and globally," Adams said.

The minister also emphasized that every competitive sport is recreational and called on the GAF to support the ministry's recreational agenda.

This alignment with the ministry's goals is expected to further boost the sport's growth and development in Ghana.

Furthermore, Adams assured the GAF of his ministry's full support to continue excelling internationally, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 African Games. He indicated that with the right backing, armwrestling has the potential to be a powerhouse for Ghana in international sports.

The meeting also touched on athlete welfare, talent identification, and coaching development, with the federation raising concerns about the need for better opportunities for their athletes, including employment in the security services.

The Minister acknowledged these concerns and emphasized the need for a structured approach to supporting sports with high medal potential. “The Ministry is working on classifying sports federations to ensure that those bringing in medals and international recognition receive the necessary resources. Armwrestling has already shown what it can do, and you deserve every bit of support,” he assured.

The federation also invited the Minister to the upcoming Independence Armwrestling Championship, a celebration of the sport’s success and its role in Ghana’s growing sports industry.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from both parties to continue working together to ensure that armwrestling thrives and brings even greater recognition to Ghana on the global stage.