Ghana has been known on the Olympic front with their wins in boxing by numerous amatuer boxers over the years and currently Samuel Takyi took the hurdle to deliver Ghana from a dream of ever getting to the medal stage by winning the only bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Mr. Richard Akpokavie, the former Secretary General of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has called for support towards amateur boxing especially as they prepare for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom..
The change of hands at the head of the Ghana Boxing Federation came as a surprise to many including Mr. Akpokavie who expressed content after the abled administration won the only bronze in Tokyo with the limited help that was available to them.
Mr. Akpokavie, a lawyer who was also the former President of the Ghana Hockey Association reiterated, “boxing has proved to be the sport that wins laurels for the nation, so the government and corporate bodies must support the GBF in their mandate to support the boxers during training and after. we all know boxing is a very difficult sport and there needs to be motivation to get the boxers, coaches and all involved going.”
In his submission, Mr. Akpokavie continued, “it is about time that sports authorities realize the potentials of the nation’s best sports performers and invest in them. Sports success comes from long-term planning and preparations, so I would advise that the best amateur boxers should be motivated and encouraged by camping them in countries where they can train to become superstars so that they can win gold and more success for Ghana.
Over the years, we can all attest to the fact that Ghana boxers are capable of winning gold at international competition, and it should not be one boxer excelling always like Samuel Takyi alone at Tokyo 2020, Jessie Lartey alone at Gold Coast 2018, or Shakul Samed alone at Rabat 2019, but there should be three or four boxers returning with medals.