Ghanaian boxer Elvis Ahorgah has been handed an indefinite suspension and fined GH¢5,000 by the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (GBIMC) after flouting national boxing regulations by participating in an unauthorised bout in Lagos, Nigeria.
As a licensed boxer under the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Ahorgah was found guilty of competing abroad without obtaining the necessary clearance from the sports regulatory body, a breach that the committee described as unpatriotic and unethical.
The sanction, announced last Friday, marks one of the sternest disciplinary actions in recent years by Ghana’s boxing authorities, and effectively leaves the 24-year-old’s career on the ropes.
The boxer, nicknamed “Soja”, fought and won a six-round super middleweight contest against Dossou Faustin Houenou of Benin on a bill staged by British boxing star Amir Khan in collaboration with the Balmoral Group to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day.
The October 1 fight, streamed live on DAZN, took an unusual turn in the third round when Ahorgah was overheard telling officials he was fighting under the Nigerian flag, sparking confusion before the contest resumed.
The bout was Ahorgah’s second consecutive win over a foreign opponent, following a stoppage victory over Patrick Sou Toke of Burkina Faso in Aflao in June. Those wins appear to signal a resurgence after back-to-back defeats to British opponents earlier in the year.
However, his aspirations of returning to the international circuit have now been dealt a major blow.
Lack of cooperation
The GBIMC’s disciplinary action followed the boxer’s failure to appear before its committee on three separate occasions after being invited to explain his conduct.
The committee, therefore, proceeded in his absence, concluding that his behaviour had violated GBA rules and the body’s Ethical Code of Conduct.
As part of the ruling, the GBIMC ordered that the sanctions be publicised both locally and internationally to reinforce discipline and protect the integrity of Ghanaian boxing.
“Mr Ahorgah, a licensed Ghanaian boxer, renounced his Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) licence and fought under the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) without proper clearance. His trainer and matchmaker, both GBA licensees, actively supported the bout despite lacking official authorisation,” the GBIMC stated.
Ahorgah’s coach, Daniel Ayiquaye, and matchmaker, Daniel Donkor, were also sanctioned for their roles in the incident.
They received two- and three-month suspensions, respectively, along with GH¢1,000 fines each, after admitting to errors in judgment. Their suspensions could be extended should they fail to settle their fines within two months.
Meanwhile, the Graphic Sports’ investigations revealed that two other Ghanaian boxers, Akimos Annang Ampiah (29) and Azumah Mohammed (32), who fought on the same card, escaped sanctions.
Unlike Ahorgah, a junior officer in the Ghana Army, the other boxers had secured the required release letters from the GBA and competed under the Ghanaian flag, in full compliance with regulations.
