WFA bemoans Ghana's inactivity

(William Ezah, Doha, Qatar, courtesy Black Panther Energy Drink and Fly Emirates)

Doha, Nov 13, GNA - Ghana, does not have a perfect record in the books of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa (WFA) due to her long absence at meetings and the non-payment of dues.

Ghana, though a member of the Federation has not been prominent at the meetings of the WFA for many years despite her recent exploits at the last All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria where she won three medals. Mr Gamil Hanna, President of the WFA, who disclosed this to the GNA Sports in Doha, Qatar at the World Weightlifting Championship, said the West Africa nation had been missing from the activities of the Federation for a long time.

"I cannot remember the last time, Ghana made a representation at any of our meetings."

"The last time the Federation met in Uganda for the African championship, which was preceded by an electoral congress, Ghana was nowhere to be found," the president lamented. He said, even before Ghana participated in the last All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, Ghana was among a large number of inactive members of the Federation.

Mr Hanna, an Egyptian said, "not even the series of reminders to Ghana has prompted her to attend meetings."

"I will not blame them because the issue is about money, most member countries are confronted with financial problems, hence their inability to pay annual dues of 300 dollars as well as raise money to participate our programmes," Mr Hanna noted.

"I think communication is also a factor because, its difficult to reach some of the member countries by their telephone numbers which were supplied my the same countries."

He also complained about the absence of Nigeria at the championship saying, "they could have made the continent proud at this event, but they failed to come."

Mr Hanna, said "the continent cannot continue to stand far away from a sport which it has all that is required to excel in" and called on member countries to sacrifice for the development of weightlifting in Africa.

The continent is yet to pick a medal at the ongoing 74th Men and 17th Women Weightlifting Championship in Doha, Qatar. The championship, which is in its fifth day, has been dominated by China, with attempts by African countries like Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Uganda to register their names on the medal table falling on rocks.