The national amateur boxing team among other leaders of the GOC and GBF
The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has announced renewed support for the national amateur boxing team, the Black Rockets, following their remarkable success at the 2025 Africa Youth Boxing Championship in Guinea.
The Committee’s President, Richard Akpokavie, received the triumphant trio — Desmond Pappoe (75kg), Mathias Ashitey (51kg), and George Dowuona (54kg) — who brought home three gold medals, positioning Ghana as a rising force in youth boxing on the continent.
“This victory is a signal of what is possible if our athletes are properly supported. Now is the time to move from celebration to preparation. These young men are not just medalists; they are our Olympic hopefuls,” he said.
He emphasized that the GOC is committed to long-term planning and will work with the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) to ensure Ghana’s best athletes are allowed to compete and thrive on the global stage.
The GOC President also acknowledged the efforts of the GBF in keeping the sport vibrant despite limited resources and assured them of the Olympic movement’s openness to providing technical and developmental support.
“We’re looking at talent identification, training camps, international exposure, and all the necessary groundwork to give these boxers and others a real shot at Olympic medals,” he added.
GBF President Bernard Quartey praised the GOC for its readiness to collaborate, describing the medal haul in Guinea as just the beginning.
“These boys proved their commitment even in the face of financial constraints. With the GOC’s backing, we believe we can qualify more athletes and aim for medals in Senegal,” Quartey said.
He further appealed for sustained investment in youth boxing, stressing that talent exists across the country but needs nurturing through better facilities, coaching, and exposure.
AM/KA