He further promised to provide logistical support to the GBA to help develop boxing across the country, and advised the two bodies to collaborate with each other transparently in order to grow the sport again.

The President made the remarks after a delegation of GBA executives and directors of Imax Group called on him at the Jubilee House last Tuesday to brief him about steps being taken to revive the sport and also plans to introduce Intra-Ghana National Security Boxing competition at the fortnightly Fight Nights of the DE-LUXY League involving 12 boxing gyms in Accra.

GBA boss Abraham Kotei Neequaye presenting the special belt to President Akufo-Addo

Welcoming the delegation to the seat of government, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Evans Owusu Bobie, emphasised the importance of boxing as one of Ghana’s strongest sporting disciplines which won global recognition and laurels for the nation both at the amateur and professional levels over the years.

Support from government

The group was led by the GBA president, Abraham Kotei Neequaye, who informed President Akufo-Addo about their flagship tournament held at the Accra Bukom Boxing Arena, and also the need for the government to support the GBA and its partners with logistics to enable the tournament to travel across the country to unearth more talents.

Mr Neequaye acknowledged that as an ardent lover of boxing, President Akufo-Addo was a distinguished member of the boxing family in Ghana, and therefore, decorated him with a symbolic title belt during the visit.

He disclosed that plans were in place to organise boxing clinics, and that workshops with experts had been invited to train Ghanaian coaches in the modern trends in boxing as part of the GBA’s strategies to develop the sport.

Presidential Fight Night

Fadi Fattal, Group Director of Imax Media, informed the President that his organisation was investing approximately $1.7million over five years, covering the organisation of 20 bi-weekly fight fights annually, which would culminate into the Presidential Fight Night on December 26 (Boxing Day) each year to crown the entire league season.

Fadi Fattal of Imex Media Group giving details of the upcoming Security Services competition

He said security agencies comprising the Ghana Army, Police Service, Prisons Service, Fire Service, Immigration Service and Customs Division of GRA would participate in the upcoming Ghana National Security Services tournament.

President Akufo-Addo further tasked the ministry to hold further discussions with the GBA and Imax Media on the modalities for the Presidential Fight Night Belt on December 26.