1976 loan: You’re my last hope for justice – D.K Poison petitions Akufo-Addo

Ghanaian boxing legend and national hero, David Kotei, popularly known by his ring name, D.K Poison has written a petition to president Akufo-Addo revealing that Akufo-Addo is his ‘last hope’ to get back a loan he gave the country he loves in 1976.

Although the full content of the petition has not been made public, insiders have hinted MyNewsGh.com that it has has to do with D.K poison’s unpaid loan he gave to the government of Ghana way back in 1976 when he was approached under an emergency.

D.K Poison who is now 68 years old, loaned the Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led administration an amount of $45,000 which is equivalent to $232,231.50 today and the cedi value of GHC 1,120,361.

On September 20, 1975, David Kotei, better known as “DK Poison,” became Ghana’s first ever world champion, capturing the WBC World featherweight title with a 15-round split decision win over Ruben Olivares at the forum in Inglewood, California.

The Ghanaian defended the belt three times – he defeated David Sotelo, Flipper Uehara and Shig FukuYama.

The $45,000 money was the cash award he earned after defeating Fuku Yama.

The government of Ghana was so broke at the time that they had to borrow his money to purchase canned mackerel to mitigate the harsh conditions the country was facing then.

Unfortunately for him, shortly after the canned mackerels arrived in Ghana, Acheampong’s regime was overthrown by the Jerry Rawlings’ coup. Acheampong was subsequently executed by the new military regime, and since then, the boxing legend has been chasing his money.

After the coup, D.K Poison said he went to see “Chairman Rawlings” about the cash and was referred to one Nathan Kwao who incidentally was also in government during Acheampong’s time, but Nathan Kwao told D.K Poison that he thought the canned mackerels were ‘D.K Poison’s gift’ to the state.

D.K Poison after meeting with Nathan Kwao didn’t give up on the chase for his money. He petitioned the late former president John Evans Atta Mills (during his presidency) about the same issue, but unfortunately, steps initiated by the late president could not be completed before he passed on. John Mahama also ignored him.

Many Ghanaians are hoping Akufo-Addo will act on the petition unlike all his predecessors.