The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah has rewarded the Ghana Weightlifting Federation with $10,000 USD for winning laurels at the just ended Commonwealth Championship in Australia and Uganda respectively. He made this announcement when the team paid a courtesy call on him to present the medals.
The Minister on behalf of His Excellency, the President extolled the team and congratulated them on their remarkable achievements. He noted that the standard of Ghana Weightlifting has been on the ascendancy and further commended the federation president, Mr. Ben Nunno Mensah for his commitment and determination by raising the level of weightlifting to another level.
Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah appealed to corporate institutions to sponsor the Federation adding that such support harnesses the energies of the youth towards productive ventures. He advised the Black Cranes to stay focused and train harder to win more laurels during the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia to justify the Government’s investment.
Briefing the Minister, the leader of delegation and the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) disclosed that the team won two (2) medals; one (1) bronze and silver at the Commonwealth Games Championship in Gold Coast, Australia and also qualified four (4) weightlifters for next year’s championship.
Mr. Nunno Mensah said the other team also won six (6) medals; 1 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze in Uganda. He, however, expressed his appreciation to the Ministry for their unflinching support to the Federation and also pleaded with the Minister to grant employment opportunities to the coaches attached to the various Federations. To this, the Minister announced the Ministry’s Youth in Sports Internship Programme which is aimed at offering employment to sportsmen and women.
Mr. Nunno Mensah further called for a Games Committee to be set up for next year’s Commonwealth Olympic Games.