Government will soon commence the building of a multi-purpose boxing gymnasium and arena in Accra to serve the boxing fraternity.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, when he visited Joseph ‘King Kong’ Agbeko during his training at the Bridge Boxing Gym at Roman Ridge in Accra on Monday 4th March, 2014.
Agbeko is preparing feverishly for his upcoming fight against Luis Melendez for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) World Bantamweight title on 22 March, 2013 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Hon. Afriyie-Ankrah, on behalf of the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama relayed the well wishes of all Ghanaians to enable Agbeko regain a world title for the country after many years without a champion.
The Minister said Boxing used to be one sport that Ghana achieved a lot of laurels and added that it was time for Ghana to regain its pride as a true boxing nation of world champions.
He said boxing deserved maximum support from both the Government and the private sector to enable the sport unearth and develop more boxing talents, and called for more corporate sponsorship to augment government support.
The Minister, who was accompanied by the Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Mrs Alice Attipoe, reaffirmed his pledge to be a ‘minister of all sports’ saying “I am committed to all the sporting disciplines and my visit here is ample testimony to that fact”.
Agbeko, who was visibly touched by the minister’s visit, said he was psychologically and physically prepared for the fight. He promised not to disappoint in front of Ghanaians.
Agbeko thanked the Minister for the honour done him by the visit.
In a related development, the Minister also undertook a tour to a number of boxing gyms in and around Bukom in Accra. The Gyms visited are the Bukom Boxing Gym, Willpower Boxing Gym, Wisdom Boxing Gym and the Akotoku Academy.
Hon. Afriyie-Ankrah relayed President Mahama’s pledge to provide Bukom and its environs a modern gymnasium and arena.
The Minister also visited the training grounds of Braimah Kamoko (Bukom Banku) who is also preparing for a title fight, and extended the best wishes of the government and people of Ghana to the boxer.
Source: MOYS PR DEPARTMENT (Larry George Botchway & Florence Adams)