Members of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF) paid a courtesy call on the Sports Minister, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, at his office last Monday to officially welcome him.

The visit, which was led by the GWF President, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, was aimed at briefing the minister on the activities of the association, their plans for the coming years, and also to officially invite him to witness the maiden Indomie Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship.

Mr Nunoo Mensah congratulated the Minister on his appointment and assured him of his support to help grow and develop sports in the country for the good of the youth.

He explained that the GWF had a four-year development plan, which has been successfully executed, and hoped to get the needed funds for them to continue to develop the game.

He said in their first year of office, the federation decided to channel more resources into making the game popular by entering into as many competitions as possible, which resulted in the winning of 19 medals, thereby becoming the only federation to win the country many medals at any single event.

He added that GWF also has the two most decorated athletes in the country due to their number of medals won.

The President also added that in the second and third year of office, they concentrated on building the technical committee and developing infrastructure, saying: “Now we own our gym and can boost of a good technical team.”

He said the fourth year will also see the development of young athlete and the introduction of the sport at primary and junior high school levels.

The Minister, who is also the immediate past president of the federation, commended the current board for the god work done since they took over from him.

He urged them to do more to spread the game across the regions, and also assured them of his support in any way possible to develop the game.

In attendance were Mr. Joel Nettey, who is a patron of the federation, Mr Charles Osei Assibey, Hussein Addy, Clifford Mettle, and Edith Owusu Agyapong, who are members of the executive board, together with some members of the statutory committees of the GWF.