Ghana has installed a new Interim Management Committee (IMC) to lead sweeping reforms in professional boxing, following a string of high-profile tragedies that have raised serious concerns about athlete safety and governance in the sport.
Samir Captan, a former president of the Ghana Boxing Authority, has been appointed chairman of the nine-member committee, which was formally inaugurated by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. He will be supported by boxing legend Azumah Nelson and a cross-disciplinary team of professionals.
The move comes amid mounting pressure to restore order and credibility in Ghanaian boxing after the recent in-ring deaths of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju and Ghana’s Ernest Akushey, known locally as “Bahubali.” Both incidents occurred during sanctioned fights at the Bukom Boxing Arena and have been widely described as a wake-up call for the sport.
“We have accepted this position to streamline boxing back to its glory days. We are going to implement it strongly—law is law,” Captan said during the inauguration ceremony, signaling a tough stance on enforcement.
The IMC has been mandated to restructure the Professional Boxing Association, enhance medical and insurance protections for athletes, and implement stricter safety protocols at events. According to sports ministry officials, the goal is to professionalize the sport, close regulatory gaps, and reestablish Ghana as a respected boxing hub in Africa and beyond.
Captan emphasized that the committee’s top priority will be structural reforms, aimed at restoring both public trust and international credibility. “We are committed to building a foundation that ensures not only competitive excellence but also the safety and well-being of every boxer,” he said.
Observers say the creation of the IMC marks one of the most significant interventions in Ghanaian boxing in over a decade. While the long-term effectiveness of the reforms remains to be seen, officials and stakeholders are under pressure to deliver tangible change in a sport that has both a rich heritage and a troubled present.
