Abigail Fremah: The calm authority behind Ghana’s rise in armwrestling refereeing

When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.

Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.

Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.

“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.

“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.

Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.

However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.

“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”

That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.

During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.

“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”

By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.

 It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.

“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”

Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.

“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.

As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.

“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.

Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.

“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”

She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.

“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.

Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.

“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”

Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.

“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.

In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.

“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”

 Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports    saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”

She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.

For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27