Mr. Ellis Quaye, a director of Cabic Promotions has advised boxers to be focused and disciplined if they want to reach the top of their careers.

Speaking at the Idrowhyt Events Centre to usher in the 26th December Boxing Day Big Fight Night, he urged the boxers to go for the best and accept big challenges.

Mr. Abraham Neequaye commended boxers who are doing well in recent fights.

He said the current GBA  hope to do more for boxers as he looks at a better future.

He assured that Ghana Boxing is changing for the better so everyone has to change, so that the whole body moves in the positive direction.

He commended national lightweight champion, Michael Ansah for his courage and determination to fight on with the best boxers.

He prayed that there would be no fake fights aka "Atche agbe shie" which is killing the development of some boxers.

He said the GBA will move to the Gyms  to monitor the training and preparedness of boxers before giving them title fights.

Idrowhyt Events Centre hosted the Christmas Big Fight which featured crack boxers with three titles at stake.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s Joseph Akai Nettey (3-0, 3 KOs) will take on Tanzania’s Juma Islam Sule (2-1-2, 1 KO) in the main bout of the Boxing Day Bonanza at the Idrowhyt Events Center at Akukorfoto, Dansoman.

The two boxers will vie for the Royal Boxing Organization (RBO) light-flyweight title. RBO is a sanctioning body based in Luxembourg founded in 2017. They sanction World, Intercontinental and Africa titles.

Ghana’s Patrick Allotey was supposed to take on Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri for his WBO Africa super welterweight title, but it has been rescheduled following an injury sustained by the Ghanaian.

Allotey (41-3, 31KOs) is reported to have injured his shoulder during a training session, and he is unable to face Okwiri (8-0-1, 6 KOs).

Mr. Gideon Oyiadzo Jingles, Marketing Manager and PRO of Cabic Promotions said they are distraught by the sudden twist of events, but hope to make amends and give boxing fans a great Boxing Day to remember.

“We are all shocked to wake up to such sad news. Patrick Allotey had a shoulder injury during training and cannot fight. He is currently being treated by our doctors; they will have to declare him fit before we can advice on the way forward. Really sorry about this. Our kind regards to Rayton and the team; we really looked forward to a good fight and a win for Allotey” He said.

But Okwiri who is not convinced said “Allotey is just scared of me, I’m ready for him when he recovers. I’m so disappointed, I hope they’ll compensate me for the expenses I incurred in training,” said Okwiri, a Kenyan boxer who reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 Olympic Games.

In other bouts on the bill, Nii Offei Dodoo will take on Osumanu Haruna  in a National Heavyweight Championship over 12 Rounds.

Michael Darku meets Moses Lartey in a Middleweight Contest over10 Rounds.

Emmanue Quaye will clash with Amoak Sampson in a Super Welterweight Contest, while Mathias Sulley Ngua meets Enock Lamptey in a Super Lightweight Contest over 8 Rounds.

Former African champion, Obodai Sai faces Armah Tetteh in a Middleweight Contest over 8 Rounds, as Mubarak Abubakar also meets Christopher Boxton in a Middleweight Contest also over 8 Rounds.

Isaac Sowah will clash with Daniel Adjei in a Middleweight Contest over 8 Rounds, while Nii Ashitey Larbie meets Mustapher Abubakar in a Light Heavyweight Contest over 6 Rounds.

All roads lead to the Idrowhyt Center where the package includes entertainment from ace musicians, notably Efe Keys.

Rates at the gate is 200ghc for VVIP, 100ghc for VIP, 50ghc for regular and 30ghc for popular stand.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. Maxwell Takyi, CEO of IMax Media group and the Mr. Abraham Neequaye, President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) on Thursday signed a lucrative $1,700,000 agreement to stage a new 5 years professional boxing league in Ghana.

Mr. Abraham Neequaye who has been in office for 155 days said it is time to create more wealth for boxers coaches and other stakeholders in the game.

After launching the website and vehicle, he said they are now ready to win more titles.

Already under his watch, Ghana has won four African titles and he believes boxing is the number one sport in Ghana as it has brought more glory in Ghana sports.

The grand finals of the professional league would be held on every Boxing Day, 26th December, every year.

He indicated that the GBA Professional Boxing League is to support boxing promoters and managers in creating more champions for Ghana.

“Winners will get cash and other packages” he assured.

An amount of $1,700,000 package between the Ghana Boxing Authority and IMax  Media Group is the deal.

Mr. Neequaye revealed that the GBA is going to establish an awards night to reward all stakeholders who excel and deserve to be honoured.

Alhaji Fadi Fattal, Commercial and Marketing Manager of IMax Media commended the new President who is giving Ghana Boxing a new face.

He announced IMax is officially registered as a boxing promotion outfit and they will provide seven fights every fortnight for 10 fortnights, every season.

"Boxing is a religion and let's make it work for Ghana" said Fattal.

Ghana Boxing will be in the limelight and be discussed daily on Max TV.

Mr. Gideon Hanson Appiah, GBA Marketing Head, said boxing is moving to a higher level of in Ghana and all who take part will be rewarded.

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah head of sports at Max TV said history is being made.

Mr. Eric Mensah Bonsu representing the Minister of Youth and Sports commended GBA and I Max Media.

He said boxing is very important and the youth need to be supported to excel and live better lives.

He hailed the Ghana Boxing Authority for their good organization.

The programme will involve 12 boxing Gyms and 40 boxers.

Technical Director of the National Sports Authority, Mr. Kwame Amponfi Jr promised support from the National Sports Authority to Ghana Boxing.

Present at the ceremony were GBA executives, coaches, boxers, boxing supporters as well as the media.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana Coach Milovan Rajevac has named a 30-man provisional squad for the 2022 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. The revelation was made on Tuesday, during a press conference at the GFA Headquarters in Accra.

Coach Milovan has handed call ups to four debutants namely, Khlaid Abdul Mumin of Vitoria de Guimaraes and Salis Abdul Samed from French Ligue 1 side Clermont Foot. Others are Maxwell Abbey Quaye from Accra Great Olympics and David Abagna of Real Tamale United.

Also in the squad is Arsenal stalwart Thomas Teye Patey who missed last month’s World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa due to injury. The midfielder has since returned to full fitness and featured regularly for Arsenal in the Premier League.

Belgium based winger Joseph Painstil has also been handed a call by the Serbian ahead of the tournament in Cameroon.

The Black Stars will begin camping on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 in Doha, Qatar for a 17-day training camp in preparation for the Cup of Nations which kicks off on Sunday, January, 09, 2022.

The Black Stars will play three friendly matches while in Qatar. The Ghana Football Association has already concluded talks with Algeria while engagements are on-going for two additional matches.

Full Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Joseph Wolacott (Swindon Town), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen)

Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Gideon Mensah (Girondins Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg FC), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Khalid Abdul Mumin (Vitoria de Guimaraes)

Midfielders: Baba Iddrissu (Real Mallorca), Edmund Addo (Sherif Tiraspol), Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal FC), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen FC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli), David Abagna (Real Tamale United), Salis Abdul Samed (Clermont Foot)

Wingers: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha), Kamal Deen Suleymana (Rennes FC), Dede Ayew (Al Sadd SC), Joseph Paintsil (Genk)

Strikers: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Maxwell Abbey Quaye (Great Olympics), Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma), Benjamin Tetteh (Malatyaspor)

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

The public is hereby informed that the camp base of the Black Stars in Doha- Qatar will not be open to the media and the public.

The decision follows a directive from the Coach to have a serene camping atmosphere devoid of distraction during the team’s preparation for the upcoming TotalEnegies Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

However, the media will be granted access to the players and the Head Coach on January 6, before the team departs for Cameroon on January 7, 2022.

The Black Stars will camp in Doha for a period of 17 days to prepare for the Tournament which kicks off on Sunday, January 9, 2021.

Ghana are expected to play three friendly matches in Qatar before they emplane to Cameroon for the tournament.

The Black Stars are housed in the same Group with Morocco, Comoros and Gabon and will open their campaign against the Atlas Lions (Morocco) on January 10, 2022.

By GFA Communications

Christmas is here and is a season to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been celebrated for many centuries. Though some believe the exact date may have been modified, his birth and circumstances around it are not only in the scriptures but also evidenced in records kept by Romans who governed Judea at the time and scholars including Jewish scribes.

This new poem or Christmas Carol was written by me with a corresponding tune also composed by myself. It has the English equivalent of the two rhyming verses I originally wrote in Ga. The lyrics encourage us to celebrate Christmas and has the same rhyming pattern in all verses and both languages. The tune for this carol is available on YouTube on channel Frank Akushie.

Gladsomely let us be merrier.

Christ is born in Judea.                                                  

Bethlehem's Star westwards neareth,

Where The Infant sweetly lies;

Finding Him have three great men wise,

Known as Prophet Micah saw.

Cherubim voices are ringing,

Gladness fills Seraphim’s being.

News of Reverence has been given,

On the meadows and the hills;

Jesu’s born! Within Maria’s fold,

Christmas! With joy we behold.

English equivalents, verses 1&2. Copyrighted to Frank A. Akushie, December 2020.

Churches ,schools and individuals who want the audio or musical notes(scripts) and others who may be interested in  two new children’s books(“Engineer Jehu Goes To Work”, “A Lioness, A Roar In A Den and More”) or other tunes and verses by myself may contact me, Frank Akushie on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  and they may only be reproduced or used for financial gain with my permission.

Some other previous publications by me are in the Methodist Sentinel Magazine (No.2/2016, No.1 2017, No.3 2018 and No.2 2019).

1. Wɔ nyaa ni wɔ mii aʃɛa,

Afɔ Kristo yɛ Yudea.

Bɛthlehɛm ŋulami lɛ ebɛnkɛ,

Heni Abifao Lɛ ka;

Nilelɔi etɛ lɛ eyoo Lɛ,

Bɔni gbalɔ Mikah na.

2. Tsɛrubim bɔfoi le mii la,

Sɛrafim bɔfoi mii nya,

Nyɔŋmɔ bɔfo lɛ shiɛmɔ eshɛ

Tookwɛlɔi lɛ a ŋaanɔ hu;

Afɔ Yesu! Maria hiɛ Lɛ,

Blonya! Wɔherea Nuntsɔ Lɛ atuu.

Ga text for verses.

(c) Frank A. Akushie  BBA, (Cleveland State Univ.),Dip. DP( KNUST) December 2020.

LAUNCH OF GHANA PROFESSIONAL BOXING LEAGUE: 2021
1.The boxing league is bouncing back after about 16 years break.
2.The new professional boxing league is a collaborative efforts of Ghana Boxing Authority(GBA) and IMAX MEDIA GROUP.
3.The biweekly boxing league will be telecast live on TV twice in a month.
4.GBA and IMAX MEDIA GROUP are expected to sign a 5year developmental deal today at the grand launch
5.The sponsorship package offered by IMAX MEDIA GROUP is 1.7 million US dollars for 5 years period with a breakdown of 450,000 US dollars annually.
6.The annual budget of 450,000 US dollars goes into boxers purse,allowance for ring officials,production cost,live coverage,publicity and all.....
7.The league system is expected to keep professional boxers active,shape their talents and project them to the rest of the world via Television
8.The league will bring about healthy competition among boxers and gyms as well as the needed rivalry among communities such as Bukom,Chorkor,James Town,Accra New Town,Teshie,La and other boxing gyms in Sunyani,Keta,Kumasi and Cape coast.
9.Boxers on the boxing league radar are expected to benefit from cash(purse) and products to keep them motivated and healthy through out the period.
10.Only stakeholders with licence will be allowed to participate in the league.
Further and better explanations will be provided at the official launch today at 2pm prompt.
Those who can't make it to the event can watch it live on Max TV.
Thank you.
Source.. GBA 

Ghana 100m record holder, Benjamin Azamati has revealed that he was nervous at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Speaking on Joy news with George Addo Jr. , he said starting his race with the world's second fastest man by his side made him psychologically uneasy and instead of concentrating, he lose focus due to inexperience.

"I have learnt a lot, and the Olympic Games has given me a lot of experience" he said.

The 23-year-old clocked 10.13s and finished 4th in the race which was won by Rohan Browning of Australia with Yohan Blake of Jamaica finishing 2nd.

Azamati, a University of Ghana alumni who now attends West Texas A&M University expressed that he feels proud to be an Olympian and looking forward for more successes in Athletics.

"I just don't want to represent and run, but I want to win laurels for myself and my nation" he stressed.

He called for more attention to people who want to do sports in the University, that they should be encouraged with stipends to be able to travel to compete at Athletics meets and the need for specialized training programs as there is the need for trainers on the field and trainers in the gym.

Azamati who was Ghana's Fastest Human in 2019 holds the national record of 100m in a time of 9.97 seconds.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic, he did not expect to run a time of 10.13 seconds and also  attributed it to lack of proper preparations in terms of competition at meets to keep his speed, strength and condition.

He was part of Ghana's gold medal-winning quartet in the men's 4x100 metres at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, and later participated at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

He said with his firm confidence in determination, discipline and desire he will shine in 2022 focusing on the World Championships in Oregon in the USA and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the UK.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

IDROWHYT BIG FIGHT NIGHT

Idrowhyt Events Centre – Akokofoto, Dansoman

Date: 26th December 2021, 7pm prompt

BOUT CARD

1. PATRICK ALLOTEY (GHANA) vrs RAYTON KIWIRI (KENYA)

WBO Africa Super Welterweight Championship (12 Rounds)

2. JOSEPH AKAI NETTEY (GHANA) vrs JUMA ISLAM SULE (TANZANIA)

RBO Light Flyweight World Championship (12 Rounds)

3. NII OFFEI DODOO vrs OSUMANU HARUNA

National Heavyweight Championship (12 Rounds)

4. MICHAEL DARKU vrs MOSES LARTEY

Middleweight Contest (10 Rounds)

5. EMMANUE QUAYE vrs AMOAK SAMPSON

Super Welterweight Contest (8 Rounds)

6. MATHIAS SULLEY NGUA vrs ENOCK LAMPTEY

Super Lightweight Contest (8 Rounds)

7. OBODAI SAI vrs ARMAH TETTEH

Middleweight Contest (8 Rounds)

8. MUBARAK ABUBAKAR vrs CHRISTOPHER BOXTON

Middleweight Contest (8 Rounds)

9. ISAAC SOWAH vrs DANIEL ADJEI

Middleweight Contest (8 Rounds)

10. NII ASHITEY LARBIE vrs MUSTAPHER ABUBAKAR

Light Heavyweight Contest (6 Rounds)

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Three swimmers who are representing Ghana at the FINA World Swimming Championship in Abu Dhabi, UAE have performed marvelously well as they have dropped some seconds off their personal bests.

Nubia Adjei who did the backstroke for the team was first to start when she bettered her personal best in the 50m backstroke. Her personal best in the backstroke 50m is 30.54s, but she did 30.09s and preparing to improve at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

18 year old Papa Yaw Poku-Dwumoh also improved on his personal best in the 100m freestyle. His entry time for the 100m freestyle was 1'00.43s,  but he dropped it to 57.68s.

Unilez Takyi the SWAG swimmer of the year 2021, also  dropped off some seconds off her entry time to better it with her hard efforts. Her entry time for the 50m freestyle was 27.49s, but she did 27.21s.

The three swimmers have indeed raised the flag of Ghana high. although they could not make it to the medal table,

Coach George Ansah believes the can do better in subsequent FINA and CANA competitions.

The leader of the delegation, Madam Delphina Quaye who is president of the Ghana Swimming Association is also delighted about their performances. Pictures by Lynda Niamke.

By Sammy Heywood Okine