Ghana boxing has been rocked by the sudden death of 32-year-old super middleweight boxer Ernest Bahubali Akushey, who passed away just 11 days after a grueling bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena.
The tragedy has reignited debates surrounding safety standards, medical care in boxing, and the role of the country’s sports authorities.
Bahubali’s last fight on September 12, 2025, against Jacob Dickson ended in a stoppage during the eighth round, with Akushey taking a blow that raised immediate concerns about his health.
However, it wasn’t until after the fight that the true nature of his condition came into question.
Despite appearing to be in distress post-match, reports indicate that Akushey was not given immediate medical attention but was instead taken by his family to a prayer camp—a decision that would later be condemned as a contributing factor to his untimely death.
In an interview with Gideon Okyere Anim (Gattuso) on Original TV, Roger Banor, the interim head of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), urged Ghanaians to reconsider their focus on the boxing authorities and instead direct their criticism at Bahubali’s family.
Banor stated, “The family should have sought professional medical care instead of taking him to a prayer camp. It’s a sad situation, but we cannot shift the blame to the GBA or the National Sports Authority (NSA) when medical negligence was the issue.”Banor’s comments come after the GBA and NSA faced public backlash for their handling of safety protocols in the lead-up to the fight.
Critics argue that there were lapses in the medical oversight during the event, though Banor insists that proper procedures were followed at the arena.
Source: metrotvonline.com
