Instill core values among athletes and officials - Sports Minister

The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, has called on the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) to instil core values such as sportsmanship, discipline, and respect among athletes and officials.

He made this call during a meeting with the newly created Executive Board of the GBF on Thursday in Accra.

He highlighted the importance of unity and discipline, urging the federation to focus on teaching these virtues from the amateur ranks through to professional boxing. He stressed that self-discipline was essential for sustainable growth and success in the sport.

Mr Adams condemned the rising menace of match-fixing, which he said would be detrimental to the integrity of the sport, adding that corruption undermines the efforts to develop talented athletes and tarnishes Ghana's reputation in the boxing community.

He acknowledged funding as a significant hurdle for sports development and called for increased support to boost the national sports fund, and urged the GBF to establish a well-structured organisation with effective planning to attract investments and facilitate logistics for talent development.

The minister advised the federation to foster relationships with security agencies to create opportunities for athletes to secure recruitment into national services, to provide both employment and career stability.

“Craft a compelling and unified narrative that will garner attention and support from stakeholders, investors, and the public and emphasise the need for collective effort and strategic partnerships to propel Ghanaian boxing to new heights,” he noted.

The President of GBF, Alhaji Dauda Fuseini, assured the Minister of committed and effective leadership and dedication to aligning with government policies and collaborating with relevant institutions.

Mr Fuseini outlined plans for a comprehensive rebranding of amateur boxing in Ghana, aiming to make the sport more attractive to stakeholders and the public. He emphasised the importance of restoring the sport’s integrity and appeal at all levels.