The announcement, made in a letter addressed to the President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Kwabena Yenoah and sighted by Graphic Online comes just days after the association unveiled its list of nominees, which included three nominations for the armwrestling federation: National Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Armwrestler of the Year.

The letter dated December 18, 2023 and signed by GAF Secretary General Jesse Agyepong, expressed gratitude for the recognition but politely requested that the federation be recused from the awards night.

No specific reason for the withdrawal is mentioned, leaving observers to speculate about the motives behind the unexpected move.

Some within SWAG suggest that a conflict of interest situation involving the GAF President Charles Osei Asibey who doubles as the General Secretary may be the reason behind the decision.

Others hint at potential internal disagreements within the GAF itself, with some members possibly opposed to participating in the awards.

Whatever the reason, the GAF's decision has cast a shadow over the upcoming SWAG Awards, a highly anticipated event that celebrates excellence in Ghanaian sports.

With a strong contingent of nominees from various disciplines, the ceremony promises to be a night of recognition and celebration. However, the absence of the GAF, a rising force in Ghanaian sports, will undoubtedly leave a noticeable void.

The SWAG Awards are scheduled to take place on January 12, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC). 

It remains to be seen whether the GAF will offer any further explanation for its decision or whether it will reconsider its stance before the ceremony.

Some executives of the GAF Graphic Online spoke to were unaware of the decision.