Ghana Boxing Federation receives Boxup kits for national teams
A UK-BASED Ghanaian philanthropist, Dr Stephen Addison, has encouraged young Ghanaian boxers to believe in their greatness and rise to the challenge of becoming the best because they are as good as anyone anywhere around the world.
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Last Friday, Dr Addison, through his UK-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Box Up Crime (Boxup), donated training and competition kits, bags, gloves and other equipment, as well as medication (vitamins and nutrients) to the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) for the benefit of all the national boxing teams.
As a former amateur boxer who fought at England schools championship level, Dr Addison set up Boxup in 2013 with a mission to explore sport, but boxing in particular, as a tool to inspire, educate and develop young individuals in order to reduce crime in England.
It has expanded to producing their own branded boxing equipment and apparel, some of which they donated to the GBF, were designed in Ghanaian colours.
"We want to give them the right equipment, the right resources so that young Ghanaian boxers can get to where they need to be. We are the greatest in the world, there's no better boxer than the Ghanaian boxer and one day boxing will not only be held in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, it will be in Bukom in Ghana. People are going to travel from all over the world to come and see the greatness within us, that's what we are about," Dr Addison said.
"It's about loving your neighbour as yourself. I love my brothers, sisters and family in Ghana and I want to see them do well. I have been blessed to have good parents who supported me when I was growing up. When I started boxing, my dad bought me boxing gloves."
"Some of these children in Ghana don't have mums and dads who can buy them boxing gloves, I have seen some kids in Bukom boxing on their bare feet. So I'm in this not for money or fame, but I want to encourage greatness, ensure that these young brothers and sisters have the tools they need to go to the next level," Dr Addison added.
A 10-fight exhibition show was organised in honour of Dr Addison for this great show of benevolence and patriotism. Notable among the budding fighters who thrilled the Boxup entourage included Accra 2023 Africa Games gold medal winners, Joseph 'Jaguar' Commey and Amadu Mohammed.
GBF President, Bernard Quartey, expressed his appreciation for the gesture "We are grateful to Dr Addison for this unbelievable support, this is just the support we need, it's a huge relief. Boxing is all about good equipment, if you don't have the tools to work, it will be difficult for you to achieve your objectives. Fortunately for us, Dr Addison has shown us this much love, we are very grateful," he said.