The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has
finalised arrangements to repatriate the body of Nigerian boxer Gabriel
Oluwasegun Olanrewaju to his home country on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, following
his tragic death during a professional bout in Accra earlier this year.
The announcement, made by the GBA Communication
Directorate, marks the culmination of a process led by GBA President Abraham
Kotei Neequaye to ensure the late boxer receives a dignified return to Nigeria.
Olanrewaju, a former Nigerian national champion,
passed away on March 29, 2025, during a match at the Bukom Boxing Arena in
Accra. His death prompted widespread concern and led to the establishment of a
committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The GBA in a press release copied to GraphicOnline
said it had now secured the necessary documentation, including a critical
report from the Ministry of Health, to facilitate the repatriation process.
Neequaye has also settled logistical requirements at
Kotoka International Airport, covering flight cargo charges of $1,000 and
custom arrangement fees of GHC5,000.
“The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), in
collaboration with the bereaved family of the late pugilist, diplomatically
requested that the body should be repatriated to Nigeria on the 17th June, 2025
to help them prepare the grounds in anticipation to offer their former national
champion a befitting return home,” the statement said.
The GBA has also submitted all reports and information
gathered since Olanrewaju’s passing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
ensure compliance with diplomatic and legal protocols.
The repatriation process follows the submission of a
comprehensive report by a committee tasked with investigating the boxer’s
death. Chaired by Major (Retired) Amarkai Amarteifio, the committee included
notable figures such as former GBA president Peter Zwennes, veteran sports
journalist Ekow Asmah, legal experts Samuel Bartels and Juliana Addo-Yobo,
boxing referee Eddie Pappoe, and sports medicine specialist Dr Martin Engmann.
Their findings, presented to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, have been hailed
as a potential catalyst for reform in Ghana’s sporting sector.
Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, upon receiving the
committee’s report, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing its
recommendations. “Life is precious, and the incident that happened was
unfortunate, but it serves as a call to be able to reform things,” Adams said.
“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.”
The minister expressed confidence that the report
would shed light on the events leading to Olanrewaju’s death, stating, “I have
no doubt that the time and energy spent on the findings will bring out the true
turn of events and that nothing will be hidden.” He also urged sports
federations to prioritise athlete safety, noting, “I hope this will serve as a
lesson to other federations and not just boxing. This is a wake-up call for
associations and federations to do the right thing and follow the laid-down procedures
in organising events.”
Major Amarteifio described the incident as a sobering
moment for Ghanaian sports. “Boxing has done so much to raise the country’s
image, and we are among the best in the world. But sadly enough, we can’t say
the same for now, and the reasons are quite obvious,” he remarked. He added
that the committee’s report provides a “unique platform to address the pressing
problems of sports, not only boxing,” and called for urgent reforms to
safeguard athletes.
Comments:
Leave a Reply