At a colourful ceremony held on September 24 at the hotel, Nelson was presented with a citation by the Paramount Chief of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III.

Signed by the Founder and Executive Director of the Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort, Nana Kwame Yeboah-Afari, the citation acknowledged the three-time world champion’s admirable boxing career and for serving as a beacon of hope to Ghanaians for many years.

It recognised Azumah’s long reign as a world title holder in two weight divisions (WBC featherweight champion and WBC super featherweight champion), a member of the exclusive International Boxing Hall of Fame, as well as an inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020.

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III welcoming Azumah Nelson to the Bagyawe Palace at Akwamufie

“As an indigenous Ghanaian hotel of international repute, we wish to celebrate you for inspiring the entire management and staff to continue to strive for greatness and perfection in all we do. We say AYEKOO to you for your patriotism, humility and generosity towards humanity. God Bless you,” parts of the citation read.

Retracing roots
In his acceptance speech, 64-year-old Nelson expressed his gratitude for the gesture and the great support given him throughout his career. He spoke fondly about tracing his lineage to the Akwamus and said he was very happy to have found his roots.

“I have lost where I came from but from the story Odeneho told me today, I have found where I came from,” he said.

Speaking to the media after the event, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III said the Royal Senchi Hotel and Akwamuman jointly decided to honour the boxing icon for his successful boxing career and how he has projected Ghana in world boxing.

He added that even though Nelson was a Ga, they still recognised him as a son of Akwamu.

Odeneho Akoto III explained that at Otublohum in Ga Mashie where Azumah hailed from, there were Akwamus who settled there when the Ga State came under the domain of the Akwamu State after the Akwamuhene conquered the Gas in 1680.

For him, the visit by Nelson was, therefore, a spiritual homecoming.

Role model
For his part, Nana Yeboah-Afari said the hotel deemed it fit to celebrate the ‘boxing professor’ for his discipline and dedication throughout his illustrious career, virtues he found to be good examples for members of staff of the hotel and those in the service industry.

Azumah Nelson and Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III (right) engaging in a table tennis match at the Royal Senchi Hotel

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Peggy Nelson, the boxing legend had earlier paid a courtesy call on Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III and his elders at the Bogyawe Palace at Akwamufie.

He later launched the new Royal Senchi Golf Club and Sport Centres at Akwamu Senchi in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, after which he engaged in a round of golf with the Odeneho Akoto II and also engaged in tennis and ping pong matches.

The boxing icon playing tennis at the Royal Senchi Hotel courts