Weija-Gbawe MP, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has described the handling of former Ghana youth international Ali Jarrah's case by the country’s sporting institutions as one of the darkest episodes in Ghana’s sporting history.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, Shaib decried the decades-long neglect Jarrah has faced since a career-ending injury in the early 1990s.
“The treatment of Ali Jarrah by Ghana sporting institutions represents one of the most shameful chapters in our nation's sporting history,” he said.
“The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has turned a blind eye—and I'm not talking about this particular Ministry of Sports and Recreation—for over three decades, failing woefully in its duty of care.”
Shaib’s comments follow an emotional appeal by Jarrah earlier in the week, during which the former goalkeeper pleaded for assistance from President John Mahama. Jarrah, now 49, was left partially paralysed after sustaining a back injury in 1993, shortly after returning from the U17 World Cup in Japan.
Despite representing Ghana at youth level and playing briefly for Hearts of Oak, Jarrah says support has been lacking ever since.
“I think when the time comes and the right authority comes, they know exactly what they must do to wipe a tear from someone's face,” he told Joy Sports.
Jarrah has called on the state to honour living heroes before it is too late.
Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS