The Boxing Promoters Association of Ghana (BPA-Gh) are refuting claims from Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) President Abraham Kotei-Neequaye that the two groups met in “an extraordinary meeting” where they hashed out differences.
The Promoters Association are at odds with the new GBA regime over a number of issues, particularly a lack of transparency as it relates to the newly-formed Ghana Professional Boxing League and the ethical, perhaps legal questions, it has raised.
This impasse has led to few fighters joining the new league. That was apparent in their inaugural event Saturday night. The lack of boxers signing up culminated in a main event which featured a former WBO Africa champion facing a fighter making his pro debut; a bout which should call into question the matchmaker’s judgement.
The ongoing battle between the two sides appeared to be over last Friday, when the GBA issued a press release stating that they had met with representatives of various promoters in Ghana and worked out their issues.
According to the press release, among the promoters present were representatives of Dons, Global Sports, Aborigines, Fast Track, Hype, Euroka, Fight Ready, Ambition, Imax and Winbase Promotions. The topics included new promotions fees with the president lauding the formation of the new Promoters Association.
The GBA president also laid out his plan for the professional boxing league, which is being promoted by IMAX Media Group in collaboration with the GBA. Last December, the two parties announced a five-year sponsorship deal worth $1.7 million provided by IMAX Media Group to the GBA in order to launch and maintain the league. Neequaye doubled down on his mantra that the presence of Imax Media will help Ghana boxing and support boxers, trainers and gyms, citing a sponsorship from Renault which will award cars to the best gym and best fighter of the boxing league.
“The doors of the GBA are opened and we want to work with genuine promoters who will make Ghana Boxing reach greater heights,” Neequaye said.
Not so fast, says the Promoters Association which noted that none of their executive members were present at that meeting and with good reason.
In a press release issued last Friday, the Association stated:
“The Boxing Promoters Association of Ghana (BPA-Gh) wishes to inform all boxing stakeholders in Ghana that members of the association who actively promote boxing in Ghana did not meet the GBA and its president as communicated in the GBA press statement. The press release is a well-crafted propagandist statement laced with falsehoods and inaccuracies intended to deceive boxing stakeholders and also sideline promoters who are raising concerns and attempting to hold the current GBA administration headed by Mr. Abraham Kotei Neequaye accountable.”
Prominent U.S. promoter Lou DiBella who currently promotes former lightweight champion Richard Commey and lightweight contender Emmanuel Tagoe, has taken notice of the back and forth. The man who once promoted Ghana boxing legend Ike Quartey took to social media and stated: African boxing officials should not hold back African boxing. Ghanaian boxing officials should not hold back Ghanaian #boxing. There is much room for growth for boxing in Ghana. Promoters communicating and working together can only be positive.
African boxing officials should not hold back African boxing. Ghanaian boxing officials should not hold back Ghanaian #boxing. There is much room for growth for boxing in Ghana. Promoters communicating and working together can only be positive.
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) February 19, 2022
The Ghana boxing promoters press release goes on to say:
The fact are that several of our members received calls to a meeting with the GBA as individual promoters less than 24 hours to the time communicated but we insisted through our president that we get an official invitation to the association, which is in line with what we have resolved to do as an association in order to demand accountability and as envisaged by the GBA constitution. We never received such a letter.
Furthermore, the press statement indicated that the GBA has refused to acknowledge the association because it is reliably informed that only three persons were at the meeting held to reconstitute the association. This is a complete falsehood as the GBA was served with an official list of all promotions and their representatives present at the said meeting.
We have cause to believe that this meeting of some promoters without the major promoters in the country is intended to pitch promoters against each other and give the false impression that the actions of the president is supported by promoters.
Our resolve has been civil but the president of the GBA and his communications director are engaged in disinformation tactics that only hurts Ghana boxing. In one vein they are calling for dialogue outside the limelight and in another breath they are putting out falsehoods to discredit the members of the association and the BPA. We will in due cause respond and throw light on these concerns and set the records straight.
This misinformation, deceit, and blatant disregard for the laws and constitution of the GBA has brought the BPAS on a collusion cause with the president Mr. Abraham Kotei Neequaye.
As it stands, there remains a rift between the promoters and the GBA. Even more damning are the claims outlined by the promoters in their rebuttal. Mr. Neequaye was unavailable at the time of this writing. Stay tuned to BoxingAfrica.com for further details.
Promoters Rebuttal to Propaganda Article
