Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe Constituency
In a powerful and emotional address to Parliament, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe Constituency in the Greater Accra Region and Second Deputy Minority Whip, called for urgent national intervention to support former Black Starlets goalkeeper Ali Jarrah, whose life took a tragic turn after a career-ending injury in 1993.
Describing the situation as a “matter of grave concern and national shame,” Mr. Shaib lamented the decades-long neglect of Jarrah, once hailed as one of Ghana’s most promising football talents.
Jarrah was a pivotal member of the Ghana U-17 team that clinched the country’s first FIFA World Cup title in Italy in 1991 and later contributed to Ghana’s silver medal performances in the 1993 FIFA U-20 World Cup and African U-17 Championship.
At the club level, Jarrah’s brilliance shone through as the first-choice goalkeeper for Accra Hearts of Oak. His extraordinary 1992/1993 season earned him all three major domestic awards and reportedly drew attention from top European clubs, including Liverpool FC and FC Köln.
However, Jarrah’s trajectory was cut short when he sustained a spinal injury during a Super Clash match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, leaving him paralysed and effectively ending his football career at just 17 years old.
“For 17 long years, this national hero has borne the physical, emotional, and financial burden of that fateful day,” Shaib told Parliament, “With his hope gradually fading as he faces continued neglect from the state.”
The MP pointed fingers at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and successive governments for their failure to support Jarrah, whose injury occurred while in service to the nation.
Despite repeated appeals for assistance, the former goalkeeper has been left to fend for himself.
In a testament to his resilience, Jarrah has turned to entrepreneurship, establishing a chalk production business which now serves as his main source of income.
Shaib urged the Ministry of Education to partner with Jarrah’s enterprise, suggesting bulk purchases and logistical support that could scale up the business while supplying educational institutions nationwide.
“This is a rare opportunity for the state to marry social responsibility with practical educational needs,” he noted.
Shaib further proposed the establishment of a formal support structure for former national athletes who suffer debilitating injuries while representing Ghana.
This, he said, should include medical assistance, financial support, and entrepreneurial training.
“The measure of a nation’s character is not just in how it celebrates its heroes in their prime, but how it supports them in their times of need,” he said. “Ali Jarrah deserves dignity, not despair.”
He concluded with a passionate appeal: “Let Ali Jarrah’s story be the last of its kind. Let this Parliament act with urgency and compassion. The time for action is now.
