By Nadia Ntiamoah
Ghana’s most decorated national sports team, the Golden Arms, faces the alarming possibility of missing the 14th African Armwrestling Championship in Abuja, Nigeria, due to a severe funding shortfall.
According to the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), Charles Osei Asibey, the team requires approximately $42,000 to cover the cost of participating in the continental championship scheduled for July 23 to 27, 2025, at the Mashood Abiola National Stadium.
The figure accounts for essential needs including travel, feeding, accommodation, equipment, competition fees, and other logistics for a contingent of 20 athletes and four officials.
Despite being one of Ghana’s most consistent and successful national teams—with an astonishing haul of 350 international medals across five African championships and one World Championship—Osei Asibey says the Golden Arms are on the brink of being sidelined due to lack of financial support.
Speaking at a media engagement in Accra, Osei Asibey expressed frustration over the situation, calling it deeply unfair to a team that has repeatedly brought glory to Ghana.
“We admit, it is not smooth economically but there should be a way,” he said. “Golden Arms has done more than enough to merit support. They deserve better.”
In 2023, the team played a crucial role in rescuing Ghana’s image at the African Games after a string of poor performances in other disciplines.
Their consistency, drive, and patriotism, he argued, make them one of the few teams the nation can reliably count on for medals.
The African Armwrestling Championship, one of the sport’s biggest events on the continent, will host over 400 competitors from more than 20 countries, all vying for continental glory across multiple categories. Ghana, as defending champions, is expected to make a strong showing—if they can make it to Nigeria.
The GAF has since launched a passionate appeal to corporate Ghana, government agencies, and individual philanthropists to come to the team’s aid.
“We’re calling on all stakeholders—ministries, the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), benevolent Ghanaians, and the private sector—to support this journey. We are ready to deliver,” said Osei Asibey.
Preparations for the tournament have been ongoing since February, with the team undergoing intensive training despite limited resources.
Federation officials say the athletes have shown resilience and unmatched determination, but morale is waning due to uncertainty over their participation.
While there is hope that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (MoSR) and the GOC may step in, no formal commitments have been made public yet. With the tournament just weeks away, time is running out.
If funding is not secured soon, Ghana risks not only missing the chance to defend its title but also losing momentum in a sport it has dominated in recent years.
