Kofi Adams, Ghana’s minister for sports and recreation has announced plans to set up an investigative committee to probe the death of Segun Olanrewaju, who collapsed during a match in Accra.
Gatekeepers News reports that the minister made the announcement while speaking in a chat with Sporty FM, a Ghanaian radio station, on Tuesday.
Olanrewaju had on March 28, collapsed to the canvas in the third round of a fight against Jon Mbanugu, a Ghanaian, at Fight Night 15 of Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena, Accra.
He was pronounced dead a few minutes after he was rushed to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Following the boxer’s demise, Remi Aboderin, secretary-general of Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), accused the Ghana Boxing Authority of negligence in his death.
Aboderin alleged that the Ghanaian boxing federation did not adhere to the sport’s rules and regulations before staging the fatal fight.
Responding to the allegation, Adams assured that the investigation would leave no stone unturned, urging full cooperation from both the NBB of C and the Ghana Boxing Authority.
He said, “It is only through an investigation that we can determine if all the protocols that need to be sanctioned for a fight were followed and if all the ringside protocols were also followed — if paramedics were available.”
“We have only begun the process; we need to institute a committee to look into what happened. I have assured all that nothing will be covered; we will ask all the questions that must be asked.”
“We hope that if the Nigerian side and the Ghanaian side will cooperate with the team that will be put in place to investigate this matter.”
