The president of Armwrestling Federation of Ghana, Barrister Charles Osei Asibey has revealed that Nigeria’s pioneering efforts in the sport and its sustained impact motivated the country’s invitation to this year’s Independence Day Championship in Accra.
The renowned lawyer, administrator, sports journalist and broadcaster, who is also the President of Africa Armwrestling Federation, further told Sports247 during an exclusive interview in Accra, Ghana that Nigeria’s leadership role in the fast-growing sport of muscle flexing cannot be overlooked.
Asibey, who was instrumental in the launch of armwrestling as an official sport in Ghana as far back as 2016, and marshalled the country’s conquest of the African championship, which they hosted in 2018, declared with glee that he is glad having Nigeria as part of the fourth edition of the elite annual competition in his country.
The chief motivator of Ghana’s national team, Golden Arms, added, “This is actually the fourth edition of this event that we are having. It’s known as Independence Day Challenge. We brought it up to celebrate Ghana’s Independence Day anniversary every year.”
Asibey then provided an insight into the overall gains of armwrestling as a sport and as part of everyday life, especially being useful in a form of self-defence and assertiveness.
He added, “We feel, as far as armwrestling is concerned, it can help people who have bullied colleagues or anyone who has been forced to shut up. So, we set up this event as a means to kind of get revenge. So, whoever is being bullied now has an opportunity to seek independence. That’s why we make sure it coincides with the celebration of Ghana’s Independence.
“Last year, we invited Togo to play in this championship. But, as far as Africa is concerned, the best friends on the continent are Ghana and Nigeria. So, this year, in celebrating this event, we spoke to Engineer Samuel Jackson, the leader of Nigeria Armwrestling Federation.
“We told him we have a lot of things in common. So, it’s better for us to celebrate this together. That’s why this year we have Ghana, Benin, Togo and Nigeria playing in the championship.”
The amiable pioneer of armwrestling as the 40th sport to be officially recognised by Ghana’s sanctioning authority and a current major motivating force for the contest of muscles all across Africa ended by reeling out words of gratitude to everyone who has made the event continue growing fast in recent years.
“March 15th, 2025 also marks exactly a year when Ghana won 21 medals in the Africa Games. So, we decided to move this year’s competition from the 6th of March, which is Ghana’s Independence Day anniversary, to the 15th, in order to also commemorate what armwrestling did in Africa.
“For the first time, armwrestling played in the Africa Games after 13 editions. Therefore, for me as a leader, and for everybody who supported the dream, including Engineer Samuel Jackson, the leader of armwrestling in Nigeria, and all of my predecessors, I feel that they did a great work,” Asibey eulogised.
