NSA boss pledges to honour Black Rockets

The National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has praised the national youth boxing team, Black Rockets, and their coach, Joseph Martey, for the unexpected success at the 2025 African Youth Boxing Championships where all three Ghanaian boxers won gold.

Mr Ankrah noted that the boxers deserved congratulations on the incredible milestone they achieved in Conakry, Guinea, last week, with virtually no support for the Ghana Boxing Federation. 

He revealed that President John Mahama himself had followed the team's achievements and would at the right time in consultation with the Sports Minister, initiate a fitting reward for the shining youngsters.

Team captain, Mathias Ashitey, led the Ghana gold romp at the 3rd edition of the tournament for Africa's future boxing stars by emerging top of the 51 kg (flyweight) division. 

Next was George Dowuona, who despite being forced to switch from his designated 48 kg category to campaign at 54 kg, still came out tops, as well as 75 kg campaigner, Desmond Pappoe, who needed just two minutes in the grand finale to finish off his South African opponent.

The trio returned to Accra last Monday to a rapturous welcome from fight fans at the Kotoka International Airport through the principal streets of Accra to Bukom. 

Last Tuesday, they wasted no time in heeding the call of the NSA chief to his offices inside the Accra Sports Stadium.

Prez Mahama appreciation

"Three out of three, 100 per cent gold is unheard of. I don't think we've achieved this before, Coach Martey and the boys deserve tonnes of commendation.

This shows that if we go intending to win the ultimate, we can do it," Mr Ankrah said.

"I can assure you that President Mahama followed your fights keenly and is impressed. I don't want to jump the gun but he will show you his appreciation at the appropriate time," he stated.

The Rockets were accompanied to the NSA by a high-powered delegation from the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) led by President DSI Bernard Quartey,  Vice-Presidents Dauda Fuseni and Solomon Otoo Lartey, Treasurer Mustapha Nettey and Black Rockets head trainer, Charles Quartey.

The GBF President appealed to the NSA boss to direct more resources to support boxing because it had demonstrated over the years it could achieve more success than any other sport, amply demonstrated in the gold medal-winning feat of all three boxers of the youth team in Guinea despite no government support.

Comparing the Black Rockets to the Black Satellites as both national U-20 teams, the football team of 21 players plus officials won nothing with all necessary support but three boxers returned with 100 per cent gold, Mr Quartey emphasised that Ghana could have won overall first had the GBF been in a position to send boxers for all 12 weight categories, as did South Africa and Tunisia to eventually emerge top two.

"We are not surprised, we knew they were not going just to participate but win medals for Mother Ghana. These are the boxers who represented us at the IBA World Championships in Montenegro last year and did very well against quality opponents, so they can't go to Africa and return empty-handed," DSI Quartey said.

"All this involves a lot of money but it is clear that maximum investment yields good results, we need all the corporate and government support. If we invest in more boxers, give them exposure in international competitions, Ghana will win more medals in boxing than ever," he added.