Ernest Akushey’s Death: NSA Slammed With Court Threat, 3 Warnings From Pressure Group
- The National Sports Authority (NSA) faces a looming court battle after a pressure group challenged its decision to suspend all boxing activities
- The group, made up of boxers, trainers, promoters, and other stakeholders, has already issued three strong warnings alongside the legal threat
- Preparations are far advanced for the inauguration of the newly formed committee, as the NSA pushes ahead with plans to reform the sport
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Ghana’s boxing fraternity is still reeling from the tragic death of Ernest Akushey, popularly known as Bahubali.
The 32-year-old passed away just 11 days after suffering a brutal defeat to Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena, an incident that has reignited concerns about safety standards in the sport.
Source: TikTok
NSA suspends boxing: Strong resistance from stakeholders
In the wake of his passing, the National Sports Authority (NSA), working with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, announced on Thursday, September 25, that all boxing activities in the country have been suspended indefinitely.
According to a statement carried by Citi Sports, the NSA explained that the decision was taken to protect the health and welfare of athletes while a full investigation into Bahubali’s death is conducted.
Watch the explanation by NSA boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah:
The move has been welcomed by many sports journalists who believe Ghanaian boxing faces deeper structural issues that must be addressed if fighters’ lives are to be safeguarded.
Sports journalist Stephen Zando of Luv FM shared his perspective with YEN.com.gh:
"This painful moment could become the turning point that forces reforms. We are aware that boxing — a sport with immense potential that often falls short due to various issues, including administrative challenges.
"That’s why I support this move. Hopefully, it delivers the positive outcomes we anticipate and helps take Ghanaian boxing back to the apex."
Despite this, the decision has not gone down well with key industry players.
The Committee for Professional Boxers — which brings together associations of boxers, trainers, promoters, agents, veteran fighters, managers, and officials — has strongly rejected both the suspension of professional boxing and the dissolution of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) board.
In a fiery statement, the group accused the NSA of “overstepping its boundaries” by attempting to replace the GBA board with an Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The four warnings from the pressure group
They vowed to resist the directive and outlined four possible steps if their concerns are ignored:
- Launch a three-day protest and present a petition to the presidency.
- Shut down all boxing gyms and boycott professional bouts nationwide.
- Refuse to recognise or cooperate with the proposed IMC.
- Mount a legal challenge against the NSA.
The standoff sets the stage for a power struggle that could paralyse Ghanaian boxing at a time when the sport is already reeling from tragedy.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation has announced plans to inaugurate the newly formed Interim Management Committee at its conference room following the dissolution of the GBA board on Friday.
Source: Twitter
It remains to be seen what the next line of action will be for the NSA and the Committee for Professional Boxers, especially considering two boxers have passed in Ghana in a space of six months.
Bahubali's last boxing purse before his death
In another report, YEN.com.gh noted that while the official autopsy to determine the exact cause of death is still pending, details about the prize money he was set to earn have emerged.
At the time of his passing, the 32-year-old boxer had built a record of six wins and two losses.
Source: YEN.com.gh
