The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has held a preliminary meeting with members of the newly formed Boxing Normalisation Committee as part of ongoing efforts to reform the sport in Ghana.
The session, which took place today, September 26, 2025, at the Ministry’s conference room, was led by the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
It comes ahead of the official inauguration of the committee scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.
The committee was constituted in response to the tragic death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who collapsed during a bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on March 29, 2025.
Following the incident, the Minister commissioned an independent probe chaired by Rtd. Amarkai Amarteifio, which produced a 100-page report recommending sweeping reforms to ensure safety, discipline, and integrity within professional boxing.
Addressing the committee, Mr. Adams commended members for accepting the responsibility, stressing that the reform process was crucial for the future of the sport.
“This normalisation process is not about personalities; it is about the future of our sport. We are determined to restore boxing to a state of professionalism, safety, and international respect,” he said.
The Minister outlined immediate priorities including the institution of medical protocols, updated health records for boxers, the establishment of a Medical Commission, and stronger anti-doping measures in collaboration with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
He urged the committee to work swiftly, transparently, and without bias to stabilise the sport, adding that the Ministry hopes structured boxing activities will resume before the end of the year.
To guide the process, the Ministry has prepared a formal white paper reflecting the government’s official stance on the investigative report, which the committee will implement under ministerial oversight.
The Boxing Normalisation Committee will be officially inaugurated at 1:00 PM on Monday, September 29, 2025, at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation conference room.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Christian Kobby Quarshie
