GBA Chairman takes swipe at Ashanti Regional executives

Kumasi, June 25, GNA - Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), has charged the Ashanti Regional Executive members of the Authority to institute concrete steps to develop boxing in the Region instead of resorting to press conferences to address issues.

"The press conferences are becoming too many. What we expect the Ashanti GBA to do is to get things going and refrain from rushing to the press to address their needs", he observed. Mr Foh-Amoaning was speaking to newsmen in Kumasi at the weekend in reaction to last Friday's press conference organized by the Ashanti GBA to brief the press on programmes they were putting in place to uplift the dwindling fortunes of the sport.

It was attended by amateur and professional boxers as well as coaches of the sport.

The GBA Chairman entreated the regional executives to strive to co-operate with their national counterparts in their endeavours for the effective organization of boxing in the Region. Mr Foh-Amoaning said in a bid to lay a good foundation for boxing development in the Region, the GBA would in the near future organize refresher courses for coaches, referees and judges to build their capacities and also upgrade their skills and knowledge. He disclosed that the Baba Yara Sports Stadium which was under rehabilitation for the Ghana 2008 would have a boxing gymnasium when completed, noting that the project would go a long way in unearthing talents and potential boxers for the nation.

Mr Foh-Amoaning said in as much as the GBA was committed to re-sourcing its regional branches to enable them live up to expectation, the latter should also play their part by moving to get qualified promoters and managers for the enhancement of boxing activities. Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional branch of the GBA would in August this year organize a competition for boxing clubs in the region as part of efforts to revive the sport.

Dr Opoku Buabeng, an executive member of the regional body who announced this at last Friday's press conference, called on boxing clubs to submit the names of all amateur and professional boxers in their camps to the executive to facilitate the pairings. 25 June 07