Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations from the committee investigating the death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju. The boxer tragically passed away during a bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on March 29, 2025.
Background of the Incident
Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, a 40-year-old Nigerian boxer, collapsed during the third round of an eight-round light-heavyweight fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after arrival. The Ghana Boxing Authority confirmed that Olanrewaju had been declared medically fit before the match .
Formation and Submission of the Committee Report
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation inaugurated a seven-member committee on April 8, 2025, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Olanrewaju’s death. The committee, chaired by Ambassador Major (Retired) Amarkai Amarteifio, included notable figures such as Peter Zwennes, Ekow Asmah, Samuel Bartels, Eddie Pappoe, Juliana Addo-Yobo, and Dr. Martin Engmann .
The committee submitted its final report to Minister Kofi Adams on May 16, 2025, within the stipulated 21-day timeframe .
Government’s Commitment to Action
Upon receiving the report, Minister Adams praised the committee for their dedication and emphasized the government’s commitment to implementing the findings:
“Life is precious, and the incident that happened was unfortunate, but it serves as a call to be able to reform things. The Ministry has received the report, and we will study it and make sure that we implement the findings because we took time to select the people with experience to serve on the committee.”
He further urged all sports federations and associations to adhere strictly to established protocols to safeguard athletes’ lives during events.
Implications for Ghana’s Sports Sector
The tragic incident has highlighted the need for stringent safety measures and regulatory oversight in Ghana’s sports sector. The committee’s recommendations are expected to prompt reforms not only in boxing but across all sporting disciplines to prevent such occurrences in the future.
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