Ghana suspends boxing after Akushey death at 32
Authorities halt boxing nationwide and outline a five-year safety plan after Ernest Akushey’s death; the move comes after a second professional boxing fatality in six months.
Boxing activities across Ghana have been suspended nationwide following the death of Ernest Akushey, a 32-year-old super-middleweight known as Bahubali, whose injuries are believed to be linked to a Sept. 12 bout in Accra. Akushey died on Tuesday, 11 days after facing Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena, a central venue in the capital that has hosted numerous high-profile bouts in recent years.
Officials described the suspension as a precautionary measure designed to protect lives, uphold the integrity of the sport and safeguard its future. The National Sports Authority said the pause would allow for a comprehensive review of safety protocols, medical readiness and event standards, with an emphasis on aligning Ghana’s boxing practices with international norms. In conjunction with the pause, authorities announced a five-year strategy aimed at establishing safer, more professional, and globally aligned standards for boxing in the country.
The decision to suspend boxing follows a second professional fatality in Ghana in six months. In March, Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju collapsed during a bout in Accra against Ghanaian opponent Jon Mbanugu and died soon after being rushed to hospital. The closures and the planned reforms come as boxing remains deeply popular in Ghana, a country that has produced notable champions such as Azumah Nelson, a former two-weight world champion. The incidents have reignited discussions about safety standards, medical readiness and the need for ongoing oversight in a sport that commands a large following in Ghana and across West Africa.