A GROUP of major stakeholders in Ghanaian professional boxing have strongly protested against the National Sports Authority’s (NSA) decision to suspend all boxing activities in the country and replace the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) board with an Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The NSA announcement followed the death of professional boxer Ernest Akushey, also known as Bahubali, after a recent bout. Akushey’s death followed the passing in March of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju after a bout in Accra.
In a press release issued by the Committee for Professional Boxing Stakeholders (CPBS), which comprises the Professional Boxers Association of Ghana, the United Boxing Coaches Association, the Boxing Promoters Association of Ghana, the Matchmakers & Agents Association, the Veteran Boxers Association, the Boxing Ring Officials Association and the Boxing Managers Association, the group described the NSA’s move as “highly irrational and unlawful.”
The stakeholders emphasised that the GBA operates under a constitution, and only its congress has the power to elect board members. “The decision of the NSA is a complete overthrow of the GBA constitution and for that matter cannot be countenanced by us,” the statement read.
While acknowledging the importance of safety reforms for boxers, the CPBS also stressed that any measures must be implemented collaboratively with the GBA. “It is absolutely outrageous to set aside the GBA and replace its board with IMC. This is a total affront to the constitution of the GBA,” the release continued.
The press release also defended the protocols surrounding the late Akushey’s recent fight, pointing out that Akushey passed away eleven days after the bout and that all necessary medical protocols were followed before and after the contest. “The cause of his death is unknown,” the statement claimed, “and the NSA cannot purport to premise its decision on that.”
To underscore their demands, the stakeholders also outlined a series of potential actions should the NSA fail to rescind its decision, including a three-day protest, closure of all boxing gyms, boycotting professional boxing, non-cooperation with the IMC, and mounting a legal challenge.
The stakeholders argued that “any reforms recommended by the Seven Member Ministerial Committee [convened after the death of Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju] must be done hand-in-hand with the GBA,” before concluding “the right approach should be collaboration and not usurpation.”
At the time of writing, the NSA has not yet responded to the CPBS statement, leaving the immediate future of professional boxing in Ghana highly uncertain.
Several Ghanaian fighters, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Samuel Takyi, are due to fight on Wednesday’s DAZN televised card in Nigeria promoted by Balmoral and Amir Khan, but when they may be able to appear once again in their homeland remains to be seen.
