•GBA had no doctor when boxer collapsed – Committee
A government-appointed committee investigating the death of Nigerian boxer Segun Olanrewaju has revealed that the fighter had pre-existing heart conditions, while also exposing serious regulatory failures by the Ghana Boxing Authority, which had no licensed doctor present when the boxer collapsed.
Veteran journalist and boxing expert Ekow Asmah, who was part of the committee set up by Sports Minister Kofi Adams to investigate Olanrewaju’s death, disclosed that pathological examinations had uncovered underlying cardiovascular issues that contributed to the tragic incident.
“The pathologist was able to diagnose the death of the boxer in specific detail and we realised that he had a pre-existing condition – an enlarged heart which is common for most athletes – but as to what triggered the pre-existing condition, it’s not ascertainable after all the scientific tests,” Asmah said.
The revelation comes nearly two months after Olanrewaju, popularly known as ‘Success’, collapsed during a bout against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena at Bukoum on 29th March and was later pronounced dead at the Korle-Bu Hospital.
More damning, however, were the committee’s findings regarding the Ghana Boxing Authority’s handling of the event and their compliance with basic safety protocols.
Asmah revealed that the GBA was operating without a proper licence and had failed to ensure adequate medical supervision was present at the bout.
“The GBA doesn’t have a doctor. And when there’s no doctor, there should be no fight. Segun Olanrewaju didn’t do the mandatory medical examination before fighting,” he said.
The committee member also exposed what he described as fraudulent behaviour during the emergency response, revealing that the person who entered the ring claiming to be a medical professional was an imposter.
“The GBA had no doctor when Segun Olanrewaju collapsed. The young man wearing a lab coat who entered the ring wasn’t a doctor.
He was clearly an imposter,” Asmah stated.
The investigation also uncovered broader systemic issues within Ghana’s boxing administration, with Asmah delivering a scathing assessment of the current leadership saying, “The current GBA head (Abraham Neequaye) is running Ghana boxing like a pimp running a brothel and he must be stopped. He can’t continue to run Ghana boxing like that.
“The GBA is currently operating without a licence. 90% of the federations don’t have a licence and that has to change.”
The seven-member committee, chaired by Ambassador Major (retd.) Amarkai Amarteifio, was inaugurated on 8th April and completed its work within the stipulated 21-day ultimatum after interviewing 30 individuals connected to the case.
Asmah emphasised that the committee’s primary concern was ensuring diplomatic relations between Ghana and Nigeria remained intact following the tragic incident.
The committee benefitted from international expertise, with WBC board member Ataa Pappoe providing technical guidance to ensure the investigation met global standards.
The committee’s 100-page report, submitted to Sports Minister Kofi Adams, recommended that Ghana should assume full responsibility for repatriating Olanrewaju’s remains to Nigeria and cover all funeral and burial expenses and Asmah also indicated that the Ghanaian government may provide additional financial support to the boxer’s family.
