WBF reinstates GBA

After a careful consideration, the World Boxing Federation (WBF) has reinstated the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) as an affiliate body of the federation.

This follows persistent appeals by two Ghanaians resident in the United Kingdom, Azumah Cofie and Isaac Attoh, to the WBF petitioning it to consider its decision to strip Ghana of her membership from the federation.

After several meetings with the two who are ordinary Ghanaians with vast interest in the progress of Ghanaian boxing, the US-based WBF decided to withdraw the suspension placed on the GBA's affiliation to the federation.

A letter to that effect has since been communicated to the GBA from the federation's ratings office.

The WBF suspended Ghana from its activities early this year following what it perceived as unprofessional attitude put up by some of the country's boxers, with Joshua Clottey being the chief culprit.

Clottey was said to have refused to mount the ring against an opponent when the two were paired for a showdown in Britain some time early this year, necessitating an action against him.

Consequently, the federation struck his name off their books, and as the letter from WBF indicated, "he is no longer in the thoughts of either the WBF or the promotion wing of the federation and has no bearing on matters."

According to GBA secretary general, Justus Agbeko, it was the punitive action on Clottey that was unduly extended to the entire nation's boxing, leading to GBA's suspension from the WBF.

He said it was after the efforts of the two men had complemented his outfit's written request to the federation asking for reasons that had necessitated the authority's suspension, that the action was given a second look. The result was the withdrawal of the suspension.

Accordingly, the WBF has reviewed the status of Ghanaian boxers affiliated to it: Joshua Okine and Brimah Kamoko (Bukom Banku) have been installed in the current ratings while Osumanu Akaba (Ossie Duran) has also been reinstated as WBF European welterweight champion and now ranks eighth to the world title.

With regards to Joseph Agbeko, he is not only required to make another defence of his title within six months of his last fight (May 10, 2002), but his managers are also obliged to submit plans for a defence within four months of his last defence.

Former WBO bantamweight champion, Alfred Kotey, has been reinstated as the inter-continental lightweight champion, having between now and Christmas to make a defence of his title.