Streetwise Management founder Michael Amoo-Bediako has some choice words for the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
Amoo-Bediako issued a press release today regarding issues with the GBA that stem from comments made publicly and privately by the company’s executive members, notably new president Abraham Kotei-Neequaye.
Since taking office, Neequaye has been at odds with Ghana boxing promoters, managers and even trainers, primarily due to an increase in their licensing fees and the lack of transparency as it relates to the formation of the Ghana Professional Boxing League.
The problems with Amoo-Bediako and Neequaye run deeper. It began with Neequaye demanding that Amoo-Bediako’s fighter, former lightweight world champion Richard Commey, pay a percentage of his purse to the GBA from his bout versus Vasiliy Lomachenko, which occurred last December in New York, where Commey resides.
A source with knowledge of the situation informed BoxingAfrica.com that the GBA specifically demanded 5% of the purse through an official letter, with no offer of a possible negotiation. If this wasn’t done, Amoo-Bediako would no longer be allowed to work as a manager in Ghana and his fighters would be told of this in writing.
Commey and Amoo-Bediako rebuffed Neequaye’s demands. Neequaye took his case to national TV, appearing on JOY News to cite the GBA rulebook which reads, “Boxers licensed by the Ghana Boxing Authority and fighting outside of the country, whether under the flag of Ghana or not, are expected to remit a percentage sum of their purse to the Authority.”
However, Commey isn’t licensed by the GBA and hasn’t been since 2017. Therefore, the clause does not apply to him.
Neequaye also alleged that Amoo-Bediako had, in effect, stolen Commey from ex-trainer Lawrence Carl Lokko. Ultimately, Commey and Amoo-Bediako’s refusal to pay the tariff, as well as Commey’s public comments on the matter, led to the GBA indefinitely suspending him and Amoo-Bediako.
Amoo-Bediako, who has maintained his silence since the suspension, issued the following statement on Friday morning:
It has come to my attention that certain high-ranking members of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) have taken it upon themselves to smear my name throughout the boxing fraternity in Ghana. These comments ultimately come back to the same unfounded allegations. They include:
- That I have placed myself at odds with the GBA and oppose any ideas they have.
- That I advise Streetwise Management fighter and former world champion Richard Commey to insult the GBA and that I am in lockstep with him on any and every comment he makes regarding the GBA.
- That I have treated Richard’s former trainer, Lawrence Carl Lokko, unfairly; that it was Carl who discovered Richard, financed his development and that I benefited from this and ultimately moved Richard away from Carl and left Carl behind.
All of these allegations are completely false. Those who have anything to say about my Streetwise organization or myself can call for a meeting with me so we can hold a constructive conversation and clear the air for the greater good of Ghana boxing. If they do not wish to do this, I ask that these same people who utter such comments in private should stop hiding in the shadows, show themselves and make those statements publicly.
These GBA members should note that I have documented evidence to refute any claims made against me and I challenge them to bring forth any documented evidence of their own in connection with the statements they have made about me.
The GBA has suspended me through a press release without contacting me personally and without giving me a chance to refute any claims and defend myself. I have written to the GBA twice on this matter through my lawyers but have had no reply. This is not only damaging to me, it is damaging to my fighters and thus, damaging to Ghana boxing as a whole. The sport of boxing in Ghana needs unity. Fragmenting it will only serve to hurt it. I do not need mercy. I do, however, demand justice. I cannot stand by and allow this to continue. Either say what you whisper boldly or don’t say it at all!!!
