Sports
Banku suspended,licence revoked …as name omitted from latest GBA rankings
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has released ratings for its boxers in the various weight categories for the period spanning April 1 to June, 2020, leaving out controversial pugilist, Braimah Kamoko – better known as Bukom Banku.
The list has the champion and its contenders for all various categories – right from light flyweight to heavyweight.
When contacted yesterday on why Banku’s name was omitted, GBA scribe Patrick Johnson disclosed to the Times Sports that the Ratings Committee had suspended and revoked the licence of the boxer.
“The reason for his suspension is that he owns Box Office Promotions and until he pays that money, he remains suspended and will not be able to fight in Ghana or go international.”
He said Banku pleaded to be allowed to go and fight in Britain in September last year and upon his return will settle his debt; “but up till today, he has not fulfilled his promise, hence GBA’s rod falling heavily on him.”
Banku knocked out his Hungarian opponent, Ferenc Albert, to win his first international fight outside Africa at the at the St George Hall in Bradford, United Kingdom, last September in a cruiserweight contest.
The cruiserweight division, where he fights has been declared a vacant one by the GBA – listing Ayittey Powers, Paa Kwesi Ankrah, Enoch Quaye, and Mohammed Ali as contenders without Bukom Banku in there. The WBO Africa champion is Abraham Tabul.
Heavyweight category also has the title declared vacant with contenders Ebenezer Tetteh, Richard Harrison, John Napari, Enoch Quaye, Ishmael Djan, Ofei Dodoo, Kamil Mohammed and Osumanu Haruna, while the light heavyweight category also has a vacant title with contenders George Banson, Atoli Moore, Emmanuel Danso, Jacob Dickson and Ahmed Abdula. Bastir Samir is the PBC light/heavyweight champion.
The super middleweight division has Delali Miledze as the champion with Emmanuel Adjei Anim, Charles Adamu, Stephen Abbey, Ishmael Tetteh, Prince Oko Nartey, Iddrisah Kalu Amadu, Issah Inusah, Michael Osunla Osuman and Eliasu Sulley.
Miledzi, who is also the WABU super middleweight champion has a mandatory title defence fixed for June 26. Emmanuel Martey is the WBO Africa champion.
The middleweight division has no champion with Issah Samir, Habib Ahmed, Daniel Adoku, Emmanuel Quaye, John Akulugu, Mawuli Foli, Mubarak Abubakar, Abubakari Samed, Theophilus Ofei Dodoo, Daniel Adjei Sowah, Aryee Ayittey, Isaac Sowah, Baba Musah, Michael Darko and Ago Ashong as contenders. Osumanu Adama is the IBO Intercontinental/ former WBC American champion. Obodai Sai is WBO African champion and John Koudeha – IBF Africa champion.
Super welterweight division has no champion with Dan Lartey, Eric Kwardey, Theophilus Tetteh Musah Lawson, Frank Dodze, Aziz Sampson, Mandela Atuulik and Jebril Mohammed as contenders. Patrick Allotey holds the WBO Africa title with Joshua Clottey the former IBF World super welter champion, while welterweight division also having no champion with Joseph Lamptey, Raphael King, Abdul Aziz Quartey, Albert Mensah, Justice Addy, Abraham Afful, Senator Agbenya, Richard Dogbega, Dozdie Kemeh, Korley Collison, Kofi Manu, Ben Ankrah, Isaac Tetteh and Ebenezer Money Sowah as contenders. Fredrick Lawson is the IBF Continental Africa champ/WBC Silver International belt holder and Richmond Djarbeng, former WBA Pan champion.
At the super lightweight division, Tackie Annan, Bilali Mohammed, Anama Dotse, Charles Lesko Sossiya, Sampson Segbetsi, Stephen Quaye, Benjamin Kuwornu, Amos Denji, Patrick Kodjoe, Richard Amefu, Daniel Oduro, Emmanuel Ardey Aryee and Raphael Deh have been declared as contenders for the vacant title. Robert Quaye is the Interim WBO Africa Champion.
The lightweight division has Michael Ansah as the champion with Sheriff Quaye, Kpakpo Allotey, Faisal Abubakari, Victor Kuwormu, Benjamin Lamptey, Ishmael Aryeetey, Samuel Akrogo, Michael Pappoe, Sheriff Seidu, Richman Ashley, Odartey Lamptey, Enoch Lamptey, John Quaye, Eric Ameshiokor, Ayittey Mettle, Moses Dodze and Azumah Mohammed as contenders. Richard Commey – former IBF World Champion, Emmanuel Tagoe – WBO Global/ IBF International lightweight champion and George Ashie – Interim WBO Africa champion.
Ansah has his mandatory title defence fixed for June 26.
Felix Adjorm is the super featherweight champion whose mandatory title defence is fixed for August 6 and has Patrick Okine, Razak Nettey, Michael Ofei Doodo, Bright Ayala, Abraham Osei Bonsu, Emmanuel Quartey, Nathaniel Nukpe, Isaac Dorwuona, Charles Amartefio, Abdul Malik Jabir and Gabriel Coffie as his contenders
Felix Ajorm – PBC/Commonwealth/national champion and Maxwell Awuku- WBO-rated.
The featherweight has a vacant title with Patrick Ayi, Eric Quarm, Alfred Lamptey, Emmanuel Otoo, Holy Dorgbetor, George Krampah, Solomon Martey, Isaac Nettey, Success Tetteh, Ezekiel Annan, David Kotey, Emmanuel Sackey, Edward Kambasi and Yussif Issifu Seidu as contender. Felix Williams is the WBE/WBL Championship with Raphael Mensah, Former WBA African champion.
Theophilus Tetteh, Isaac Sackey, Michael Tagoe, Emmanuel Otoo, John Laryea, Felix Okine, Thompson Arap Moi, Sheriff Mohammed and Elvis Mensah have been named as contenders for the vacant super bantamweight title. Isaac Dogboe is former WBO World champion, while Wasiru Mohammed is the WBO Global champion.
The vacant bantamweight division has Prince Dzanie, Raymond Commey, Kamarudin Boyefio, Isaac Quaye, Gabriel Odoi Laryea, Umar Abdul Malik Issah, Oliagede Tunde, Michael Nelson and Mohammed Fuseini as contenders. Duke Micah is former Commonwealth champion and Joseph Agbeko, WBO Africa champion.
Super flyweight champion Manyo Plange will make his mandatory defence on June 30 in the division which has Albert Commey as a contender.
Manyo Plange is the PBC Commonwealth/ national champion.
Both light flyweight and flyweight have vacant titles and contenders.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Sports
Kotoko withdraws from Ghana Premier League
Kumasi Asante Kotoko has withdrawn from the Ghana Premier League until further notice.
This follows an incident of hooliganism which occurred during their match with Nsoatreman FC leading to the death of a fan, Nana Yaw Frimpong, better known as Pooley.
In a statement issued by the management, the added that “Finally, Asante Kotoko wishes to state that all footballing activities of the senior team are on hold until further notice. Our stance remains unchanged, we will not resume footballing duties until justice is served, and concrete steps are taken to prevent such barbaric acts from ever happening again.”
They added “In the meantime, management has decided to suspend all activities relating to football on the pitch until further
investigations into the matter.”
Against this backdrop, they called on their archrivals saying, “It is time to end the cycle of violence hooliganism, and lawlessness that threatens the integrity of our game. We call on all clubs to support this cause, especially our greatest rivals on the pitch, Accra Hearts of Oak, because this is bigger than competition–it is about securing the future of our domestic league once and for all.”
“Asante Kotoko remains deeply heartbroken by the tragic events that unfolded at the Nana Koramansah Park, leading to the senseless murder of our cherished supporter, Francis Yaw Frimpong,”they added.
“The pain of his loss still lingers, but in these trying
times, we stand united as a club, a family, and a force for positive change in Ghanaian football. While our grief is immeasurable, we take solace in the fact that justice is beginning to take its course,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
Sports
FIFA Financial Governance Workshop: Share insights with local clubs- Abedi Pele
Former three-time African footballer of the year Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to share lessons from the three-day high-level FIFA financial governance workshop.
The workshop held recently was focused on the latest insights and tools for enhancing financial governance and accountability in football administration.
This, according to Abedi Pele, must be shared with local clubs to help them understand the importance and value of the best financial practices to save Ghana football from its present downward spiral.
He made this known at the closing ceremony of the workshop last Friday in Accra, which was organised for representatives from 10 African countries.
The Ghanaian legend, while applauding FIFA for selecting Ghana to host the high-level intensive workshop, noted that workshops like the just-ended one were what the continent, and especially clubs in Ghana, were crying for to help and position them well for sponsorship and support from institutions of great repute to raise the level of the game higher.
“Issues of financial mismanagement, lack of accountability, transparency, and efficient resource use within football organisations have always been our bane here in Ghana, and with a workshop like this providing participants with valuable insights and tools to fortify their organisations’ financial foundations, ensuring long-term sustainability, accountability, and effective resource management, Ghanaian clubs will begin a reset to proper football management,” he said.
According to him “It’s a feather in the cup of the GFA to have FIFA selecting Ghana for this leg of the workshop. Now I call on you, General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, to make sure information from this workshop is spread across to all clubs in Ghana because these are the things they need to strengthen their governance framework and ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of the clubs.”
Mr Harrison Addo noted that it was a call in the right direction, and although his outfit has long started reforms in terms of the club licensing regulations, a lot more would be done to help clubs gain a firm foundation for the future success of the game.
“The workshop has been extremely helpful and equipped us with the tools and knowledge to uphold the highest standards, fostering trust and integrity within our football community,” the Maestro added.
Head of the Financial Governance Programme at FIFA, Christoph Suppiger, said the three-day session emphasised the importance of accountability, transparency, and responsible financial management within the context of the FIFA Forward programme and also helped Member Associations to know how to prevent conflict of interest, planning and budgeting, and the procurement process, as well as the importance of having adequate supporting documentation.
The workshop held under the banner of the newly established FIFA Campus, which serves as the central football learning hub for all FIFA capacity development and education initiatives, had Abedi Ayew decorating all the facilitators and participants with customized sashes as well as presenting signed Black Stars jerseys.
By Raymond Ackumey