A dispute has emerged between the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF) and athlete management agency Just Keep Going Inc. following the withdrawal of five Ghanaian athletes from the ongoing African Weightlifting Championships in Mauritius.
Background to the Dispute
On April 22, Just Keep Going Inc., a U.S.-based agency representing several elite Ghanaian weightlifters, released a public letter condemning what it described as a “unilateral, unjust, and deeply damaging”
decision to pull athletes from the competition.
The affected athletes—Gabriel Owusu, Marie Korkor Agbah-Hughes, Paul Agrama, Adjei Abraham, and Sylvanus Kugblenu—are all internationally recognized and were present in Mauritius ready to compete.
The agency’s CEO, Kevin Frey, accused the GWF, and specifically its president Jerry Ahmed Shaib, of acting out of political motivation and punishing athletes who had voiced support for leadership reform within the federation. Frey called for an investigation, sanctions, and new elections within the GWF.
“These athletes are not only medal contenders—they are the faces of Ghanaian resilience, discipline, and excellence,” the statement read.
GWF’s Response
In a detailed rebuttal issued by its Executive Board, the GWF rejected the allegations, asserting that the athletes had never been officially cleared or authorized to represent Ghana at the championship. According to the Federation, no team list was submitted, no formal registration occurred, and no oversight was provided by GWF.
“To be absolutely clear, the athletes were not withdrawn. They were never approved or cleared to represent GWF in the first place,” the Federation stated.
The GWF also reaffirmed that Mr. Shaib remains the recognized president of the Federation, dismissing any claims of illegitimacy. It accused Just Keep Going Inc. of attempting to interfere with internal governance and warned against what it called “false representation” of national authority.
A Broader Governance Issue
The situation comes amid broader tensions within the GWF. In March, board member Joseph Sintim secured a court injunction halting the Federation’s electoral process, signaling deeper divisions and challenges to the existing leadership.
While Just Keep Going Inc. alleges that the athletes’ exclusion reflects internal politics, the GWF maintains it is simply enforcing governance protocols required for international representation.
The Federation pointed out that Ghana is still officially represented at the championships by Winifred Ntumi, indicating that the country has not entirely withdrawn from the competition.
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