Some Ghanaian weightlifters are stranded in Mahebourg, Mauritius after being prevented from the final entry for the African Weightlifting Championships.
The athletes, who are finding it difficult to foot their bills, are blaming President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF) Jerry Shaib Ahmed for the current situation.
They claim he is behind their expulsion from the ongoing Championships in Mauritius.
Speaking on Maakye Sports on Onua TV on Tuesday, April 22, Gabriel Owusu, one of the stranded weightlifters, said they reached out to philanthropists to sponsor their travel to participate in the African Weightlifting Championships.
However, their coach was prevented from the final entry after officials claimed the GWF President instructed them not to register any athletes unbeknown to him from Ghana.
“Jerry Shaib Ahmed was not communicating with some of us because he thought we were supporting his opponent for the elections,” he said.
“So, when the time for this competition was nearing, we were also crying for someone to help us and Hon. Michael Nii Yarboi Annan said he also loves weightlifting and irrespective that he is not yet the president though contesting, he will ensure that we attend the competition.
“And we welcomed the decision and he made some calls and got us the tickets.”
Gabriel Owusu lamented that for the past four years, they had not travelled for any competition, the reason they were so happy to be helped to participate in the Mauritius edition.
He said they went to Hon. Jerry Shaib Ahmed, who has been in Mauritius for the Executive Board Meeting, to apologise to him but he remained adamant.
“I led the team and the coach to apologise and [ask him to] forget about everything because we are representing the nation and so if he even has an issue with an athlete, it is not for personal reasons but we are doing it for the love of the country and we want to raise the Ghana flag to the highest level.”
They, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, and the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, to intervene.
Meanwhile, the GWF has denied all the allegations levelled against its President.
In a letter sighted by Onua Sports and written by the Executive Board, the stranded athletes were not sanctioned to participate in the championships.
“Participation in international championships goes far beyond showing up to compete,” the letter addressed to Kevin Frey, the Chief Executive Officer for Just Keep Going Inc., the sponsors of the athletes’ travel, said.
“It involves formal authorization, recognition, and accountability at the national level.”
It added that Ghana is represented at the Championships by Winifred Ntumi, who is authorised by GWF to compete in Mauritius.
“It must be stated unequivocally that governance and regulation of the sport rests with the
Federation not private entities or sponsors.
“Demanding sanctions or externally-imposed elections reflects a misunderstanding of the structures governing the sport.”
It welcomed constructive engagements with individuals or organisations in advancing weightlifting in Ghana.
“We welcome engagement not antagonism. We are open to collaboration not coercion. We hope this marks a turning point toward honest dialogue, not further disinformation.
“Should Just Keep Going Inc. wish to engage constructively with the Ghana Weightlifting Federation, we remain open to respectful partnership rooted in integrity and the shared goal of advancing weightlifting.”
