Female boxing team seek First Lady’s support in preparation for maiden world championships

Ghana’s female boxing team, Black Hitters, have made a heartfelt appeal to the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, seeking her personal intervention to secure the necessary support for their upcoming participation in the 2025 IBA Women's World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, this March.

This year marks a historic moment for Ghana as they register for the first time in the prestigious women’s competition, taking place from March 8-17. 

However, the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) has faced significant financial challenges, managing to register only five boxers so far, and hopes to add two more before the February 10 deadline.

The competition will feature 13 weight categories, and the limited funding means the team is still struggling to secure the resources they need.

Despite these hurdles, a 15-member team has begun non-residential training at Bronx Boxing Club in Bukom under the guidance of coaches Abdul Rasheed Williams and Daniel Lartekwei Quaye. However, the fighters have voiced frustrations, revealing serious gaps in their training conditions.

"We are training well, and we thank our coaches for their dedication. But we are struggling with basic necessities," Team leader, Trudy Manteaw, said. "We lack proper training kits, gloves, head guards, and even food and refreshments during our sessions. We are asking the First Lady to understand our challenges as women and offer us the support we desperately need to succeed," she added.

Manteaw, whose team is aiming for gold, made a promise to the First Lady: “We will return with something to inspire the younger generation. We believe we can achieve more. We can do better than what’s expected and make Ghana proud.”

Also echoing the plea for support, Coach Abdul Rasheed Williams emphasised the broader impact such assistance could have on empowering young women across Ghana.

"Supporting these girls means giving them purpose and keeping them away from social vices such as teenage pregnancy, prostitution and crime," Williams, who was recently honoured with the Dedication and Valour Award at the 49th SWAG Awards in Accra, said.

“I appeal to the First Lady, the Vice-President and corporate bodies to help empower these women. A visit from the First Lady or Vice-President would go a long way in boosting their morale,” Williams, who is confident his boxers will deliver impressive results in Serbia, added.

As the Black Hitters continue to push forward, their call for support grows louder. With the right backing, they are determined to prove that women in sports can achieve just as much—if not more—than their male counterparts. Ghana’s female boxing stars are ready to make history and show the world that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.