Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Iddie Adams, has reaffirmed the October 31 deadline for elections to usher in a new Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) leadership, insisting that the government will not provide additional funding despite financial concerns raised by the Interim Management Committee (IMC).
The minister told the Daily Graphic that the long-awaited elections must proceed before the end of the month, bringing to a close more than a year of interim administration following the dissolution of the GBA board amid serious safety concerns in professional boxing.
“The election is to be conducted at the end of October. That’s what I was told,” Mr Adams confirmed, reinforcing the deadline set by the National Sports Authority (NSA).
In a directive issued last month and signed by the then NSA Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the regulatory body instructed the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (GBIMC) to complete the electoral process by October 31, 2026.
“The Committee is hereby directed to take all necessary steps to ensure that elections for the substantive officers of the Ghana Boxing Authority are conducted on or before October 31, 2026,” the letter stated.
It further instructed the committee to prepare and implement an appropriate electoral programme to meet the deadline.
No additional funding
However, with the election timetable yet to be announced, funding remains a contentious issue, alongside outstanding candidate vetting and disputes over the eligibility of boxing gyms to participate in the voting.
Mr Adams was emphatic that the government would not release additional money to finance the polls, arguing that the process could be funded through candidates' filing fees and, if necessary, contributions from aspirants.
“We have told the Director-General of the NSA we have no additional funds. They should use the filing fee. If it’s not enough, they should meet the aspirants to contribute. When we did the calculations, they can fund the election without more,” he explained.
The minister's position effectively places responsibility for financing the exercise on the NSA and the interim committee, increasing pressure on both bodies to resolve outstanding administrative issues before the deadline.
The committee, chaired by experienced boxing administrator Samir Captan, with legendary former world champion Azumah Nelson serving as vice-chairman, was inaugurated on September 29, 2025.
Its appointment followed the dissolution of the GBA board and suspension of professional boxing after the deaths of Ghanaian boxer Ernest “Bahubali” Akushey and Nigerian fighter Gabriel Oluwasegun Olarenwaju within six months.
Initially handed a 90-day mandate, extended by another 30 days, the committee was tasked with restoring confidence in professional boxing, strengthening safety standards, introducing reforms and preparing the sport for a return to elected leadership.
Its tenure was subsequently extended by three months in February 2026, with elections originally envisaged for May or June.
Contest takes shape
The impending elections have attracted considerable interest, particularly in the presidential contest between former boxer and immediate past GBA First Vice-President, Rabbon Dodoo, and prominent boxing promoter and manager, Ivan-Bruce Cudjoe.
Other positions to be contested include the two vice-presidencies, treasurer and four executive board seats.
However, unresolved vetting issues, disputes over eligible voting gyms and financial constraints have delayed the publication of a final approved candidates' list and a definitive election timetable.
During its tenure, the interim committee has overseen the resumption of professional boxing, strengthened medical and safety protocols, pursued insurance arrangements for boxers and developed a medical database.
