Patrick Johnson, general secretary of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), has called on the Sports Ministry to invest in the National Boxing League.
In March 2020, the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) suspended the three-month old National Boxing League following the ban on all contact sports amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
One year later, the GBA is yet to resume the league even though government has lifted the ban on contact sports. This is because organizing the league has become too expensive a venture, for the GBA to run.
Now, with no financial support on the horizon, the GBA is forced to look towards the Sports Ministry for help.
Speaking on the situation, Patrick Johnson told Asaase Sports, the GBA has tried without success to raise funds to run the league.
‘‘Unfortunately, we have not been able to resume the league even though the ban on contact sports has been lifted and it is simply a matter of funding. We (the GBA) have tried everything we can, including seeking sponsorship from corporate entities. Regrettably, the response we keep getting is that the economic climate is not conducive for them to make any kind of outlay.’’
In view of this, the GBA has turned its attention to the Sports Ministry, seeking financial support.
‘‘At this point, our best bet is for the Sports Ministry to intervene and invest in the league. We had extensive discussions with the previous leadership of the Sports Ministry but it didn’t yield much. But we have not given up yet. We cannot give up because there is too much at stake. If we are able to revive the league, it offers regular and quality competition to of our boxers. The African Games is just two years away and if we are expecting medals from boxing, I believe investments like this should be made’’ he concluded.
The leadership of the GBA is expected to meet the new Sports Minister just as they did with the former Sports Minister.
Victor Atsu Tamakloe
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