Ghana Boxing Authority to repatriate late Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun on June 17

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has finalised arrangements to repatriate the body of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju to his home country on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, following his tragic death during a professional bout in Accra earlier this year. 

The announcement, made by the GBA Communication Directorate, marks the culmination of a process led by GBA President Abraham Kotei Neequaye to ensure the late boxer receives a dignified return to Nigeria.

Olanrewaju, a former Nigerian national champion, passed away on March 29, 2025, during a match at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. His death prompted widespread concern and led to the establishment of a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

The GBA in a press release copied to GraphicOnline said it had now secured the necessary documentation, including a critical report from the Ministry of Health, to facilitate the repatriation process.

Neequaye has also settled logistical requirements at Kotoka International Airport, covering flight cargo charges of $1,000 and custom arrangement fees of GHC5,000.

“The Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC), in collaboration with the bereaved family of the late pugilist, diplomatically requested that the body should be repatriated to Nigeria on the 17th June, 2025 to help them prepare the grounds in anticipation to offer their former national champion a befitting return home,” the statement said. 

The GBA has also submitted all reports and information gathered since Olanrewaju’s passing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure compliance with diplomatic and legal protocols.

The repatriation process follows the submission of a comprehensive report by a committee tasked with investigating the boxer’s death. Chaired by Major (Retired) Amarkai Amarteifio, the committee included notable figures such as former GBA president Peter Zwennes, veteran sports journalist Ekow Asmah, legal experts Samuel Bartels and Juliana Addo-Yobo, boxing referee Eddie Pappoe, and sports medicine specialist Dr Martin Engmann. Their findings, presented to the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, have been hailed as a potential catalyst for reform in Ghana’s sporting sector.

Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams, upon receiving the committee’s report, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing its recommendations. “Life is precious, and the incident that happened was unfortunate, but it serves as a call to be able to reform things,” Adams said. “The Ministry has received the report, and we will study it and make sure that we implement the findings because we took time to select the people with experience to serve on the committee.”

The minister expressed confidence that the report would shed light on the events leading to Olanrewaju’s death, stating, “I have no doubt that the time and energy spent on the findings will bring out the true turn of events and that nothing will be hidden.” He also urged sports federations to prioritise athlete safety, noting, “I hope this will serve as a lesson to other federations and not just boxing. This is a wake-up call for associations and federations to do the right thing and follow the laid-down procedures in organising events.”

Major Amarteifio described the incident as a sobering moment for Ghanaian sports. “Boxing has done so much to raise the country’s image, and we are among the best in the world. But sadly enough, we can’t say the same for now, and the reasons are quite obvious,” he remarked. He added that the committee’s report provides a “unique platform to address the pressing problems of sports, not only boxing,” and called for urgent reforms to safeguard athletes.