Ghana Boxing Authority confirms repatriation of late Nigerian boxer Gabriel Olanrewaju's body
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has confirmed the successful repatriation of the body of late Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, to his home country, Nigeria.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, by the GBA Communication Directorate, marks the final stage in a months-long process following the boxer’s tragic death in Accra earlier this year.
In a brief statement, the GBA said, “The body of Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju has been airlifted a couple of minutes ago en route to Lagos-Nigeria.” The cargo flight was expected to make a stopover in Lomé before continuing to its final destination in Lagos.
The GBA expressed gratitude to the people of Ghana, the media, and particularly the boxing fraternity for their “immeasurable support” throughout the ordeal. The Authority also assured the public that updates would be provided regarding the body’s arrival and the subsequent burial arrangements.
Olanrewaju, a former Nigerian national boxing champion, died on March 29, 2025, during a professional bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. His death sent shockwaves across the boxing world and led to the formation of a high-powered committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The GBA revealed that it had secured all necessary documentation for the repatriation, including a critical report from the Ministry of Health. President of the GBA, Abraham Kotei Neequaye, was instrumental in coordinating logistics, settling cargo flight charges of $1,000 and customs fees of GH¢5,000.
The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), in collaboration with the late boxer’s family, formally requested the repatriation to be scheduled for June 17. “This was to allow the family sufficient time to prepare for a befitting return of their former national champion,” the GBA explained.
The Authority also submitted all relevant reports to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the repatriation complied with diplomatic and legal protocols.
A committee chaired by Major (Rtd) Amarkai Amarteifio was tasked with investigating the incident. Members included respected sports stakeholders such as former GBA President Peter Zwennes, sports journalist Ekow Asmah, legal experts Samuel Bartels and Juliana Addo-Yobo, referee Eddie Pappoe, and Dr Martin Engmann, a specialist in sports medicine. Their findings were presented to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Receiving the report, Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams said the government was committed to implementing its recommendations. “Life is precious, and the incident that happened was unfortunate. It serves as a call to reform things,” he noted.
He added that the report would offer transparency and clarity about the events leading to Olanrewaju’s death. “I hope this will serve as a lesson to other federations and not just boxing. This is a wake-up call,” he warned.
Major Amarteifio also commented on the state of Ghanaian boxing. “Boxing has done so much to raise the country’s image. But sadly enough, we can’t say the same for now, and the reasons are quite obvious,” he said. He described the report as “a unique platform to address pressing problems in sports” and urged swift reforms to safeguard athletes.
