Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA) has suspended all boxing activities across the country following the heartbreaking death of professional boxer Ernest “Bahubali” Akushey.
The announcement, made in consultation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was contained in a statement released on September 25, 2025, and takes effect immediately.
The decision comes just 11 days after Akushey’s final fight at the Bukom Boxing Arena on September 12, where the 32-year-old super middleweight was stopped in the eighth round by Jacob Dickson. Akushey was later admitted to the LEKMA Hospital in Teshie, where he passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, September 23.
According to his manager, Shatta Roco, the boxer had initially been treated for malaria after the fight, but doctors later discovered “several other complications” during his last hospital visit.
In its statement, the NSA said the suspension reflects a shared commitment with the Sports Ministry “to prioritise the safety, health, and welfare of athletes.” The Authority revealed that, even before this tragedy, plans had been finalised for a comprehensive five-year safety and development reform for Ghanaian boxing, to be overseen by a nine-member Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The reforms, it said, aim to strengthen medical, technical, and regulatory systems within the sport — ensuring that when boxing resumes, it will be under “safer, more professional, and internationally aligned standards.”
The NSA acknowledged that the suspension would pose challenges for athletes, promoters, and fans but insisted it was a “necessary step to protect lives, preserve the integrity of the sport, and secure its future.”
The move also aligns with recommendations from a ministerial committee established after the recent death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, who collapsed during a bout earlier this year.
Akushey’s passing has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s boxing circles, particularly in Bukom, the sport’s spiritual home. Known for his resilience and all-action fighting style, “Bahubali” was admired by fans but had also drawn concern from some in the boxing community.
After his last fight, former IBF world champion Joshua Clottey warned in a viral video:
“He may not feel the effects of the punishment now, but he will suffer the impact later in life.”
Sadly, those words now feel hauntingly prophetic.
For now, the boxing fraternity mourns a fallen warrior — and awaits the reforms that may prevent another tragedy in the ring.
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