National Security Officers halt Ghana Weightlifting Federation Elections amid heated Presidential Contest

The Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF) Elective Congress, scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Media Center in Accra, was dramatically interrupted midway by National Security officers, bringing the proceedings to an abrupt halt.

The event was set to determine the federation’s leadership, with the presidential race drawing significant attention due to the prominent candidates vying for the position: Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, and Michael Nii Yarboi Annan, a former National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary aspirant for Odododiodoo, widely known as “Don.”

The intervention by National Security officers has sparked widespread speculation and concern online, though no official statement has yet clarified the exact reasons for the disruption.

Sources suggest that tensions may have escalated due to the politically charged nature of the contest, given the candidates’ affiliations with Ghana’s two dominant political parties, the NPP and NDC.

Jerry Ahmed Shaib, who currently serves as the GWF President and has been vocal about elevating Ghana’s weightlifting profile globally, was facing a formidable challenge from Michael Nii Yarboi, whose candidacy had galvanized support from various quarters.

Prior to the halt, the Elective Congress was poised to be a pivotal moment for the federation, following recent milestones such as the inauguration of a renovated national training center at the Accra Sports Stadium on February 12, 2025.

Shaib, leveraging his dual role as an MP and sports administrator, had emphasized the importance of infrastructure improvements for the sport’s growth, while Annan’s campaign reportedly focused on grassroots development and broader inclusivity in weightlifting governance.

The sudden interruption has left the outcome of the election uncertain, with no rescheduled date.

This development comes against the backdrop of Ghana’s politically polarized climate, underscored by the recent 2024 general elections, where both the NPP and NDC faced contentious disputes over parliamentary results, including in Shaib’s Weija-Gbawe constituency.