The newly constituted Central Regional Armwrestling Association has announced an ambitious plan to make Junior and Senior High Schools the backbone of armwrestling development in Ghana, as part of efforts to transform the region into a national powerhouse for the sport.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Central Regional Sports Director, Ms. Joyce Datsa, the Regional Chairman, Mr. Abass Sulley, said the association’s development agenda will focus on nurturing young athletes through structured inter-school competitions and training programmes.
He explained that introducing armwrestling at the basic and secondary school levels would create a sustainable talent pipeline and help position the Central Region as Ghana’s breeding ground for future national and international champions.
“Our goal is to unearth and develop young talents from the schools,” Mr. Sulley stated. “We believe the Central Region has the right environment — strong sporting culture, academic discipline, and enthusiasm — to become the hub of armwrestling in Ghana.”
Supporting the initiative, Mr. Charles Osei Asibey, President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, said the move aligns with the Federation’s broader agenda of decentralizing the sport and creating opportunities for youth empowerment.
“The Central Region stands out for its blend of sports excellence and academic vibrancy,” he noted. “By focusing on schools, we’re not only building athletes but also shaping disciplined young citizens who can turn their sporting passion into economic opportunity.”
Regional Sports Director Ms. Joyce Datsa lauded the association’s school-based strategy and pledged the National Sports Authority’s support in implementing the program. She emphasized that collaboration among schools, sports authorities, and local communities would be key to achieving lasting success.
The new regional leadership is tasked with forming school clubs, organizing community-based competitions, and assembling a strong regional team to feed into the national squad. The association also plans to host a “training of trainers” workshop in the coming days to equip coaches and physical education instructors with the necessary technical skills.
The Central Region’s initiative signals a new era in Ghana’s armwrestling landscape — one that sees schools not just as centers of learning, but as nurseries for sporting excellence and national pride.
