Former Ghanaian boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as Ayitey Powers, has been remanded for one week following his arrest over an alleged death threat against National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.
Ayitey Powers was arrested by the Police on Monday, August 24, 2026 in relation to investigations on a video circulating on social media in which the former boxer was alleged to have issued the threat.
He was subsequently put before the Dansoman Circuit Court on Tuesday, August 25, where he was remanded to reappear on September 2, 2026.
He remains in police custody as the Accra Regional Police Command continues investigations into the alleged threat.
The latest development follows a strong call from the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (GBIMC) for his arrest and prosecution after the committee condemned the alleged conduct.
In a statement issued on August 20, the GBIMC described the alleged threat against the NSA Director-General as unacceptable and criminal and called on the Police Service to act.
“We are requesting the Ghana Police Service as a matter of urgency to investigate and appropriately prosecute Michael Nii Ayitey Okai,” the committee stated.
The GBIMC also warned that Ghanaian boxing must not be held hostage by “intimidation, thuggery or impunity”, while urging stakeholders to help restore discipline, respect and honour to the sport.
The committee said it had also initiated disciplinary proceedings against Ayitey Powers, meaning the case could have consequences for him beyond the ongoing police investigation.
The arrest comes against the backdrop of longstanding disagreements between Ayitey Powers and NSA authorities, regarding his complaints over a government-enforced cancellation of a boxing event to be hosted by his Ayitey Powers Promotions in September last year – and alleged commitment to a financial compensation by the NSA boss.
Powers claims he lost close to $100,000 when the NSA and Ministry of Sports and Recreation suspended all boxing activities on the eve of the September 27 show and has had a back and forth exchanges against the NSA chief on both social and mainstream media over the past few months, including a public exhibition of an apparent smoking of peace pipe with Mr Ankrah last May.
The IMC was sworn into office on September 29, 2025 to sanitize the boxing ecosystem and establish safety and medical reforms, following the September 26 temporary ban of all boxing activities in the wake of death of Ernest “Bahubali” Akushey 12 days after a brutal stoppage loss at the Bukom Boxing Arena.
It was the second ring related death in six months following the collapse during a fight at the same venue, and later death at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju in March 2025.
The Police, meanwhile, have urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information while investigations continue, with Powers in custody.
