By Helga Gokah
The funeral of late boxer Ernest Akushey aka Bahubali, initially slated for December 6, has been postponed to December 20 at Chorkor Tea Garden, a suburb of Accra.
According to the family sources, the last-minute decision was due to unforeseen circumstances that needed to be addressed before the funeral could be held.
The postponement came at the latter end of November, just before the initial burial week.
The news of the sudden death of Chorkor-based Super Middleweight boxer made headlines in the wee hours of Tuesday, September 23, after he was rushed to the Lekma Hospital in Teshie.
Ernest Akushey died just 11 days after his September 12 bout with Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena, where he was stopped in the eighth round.
Reports indicate he suffered internal bleeding following injuries sustained from the fight.
Following the tragic passing of the boxer in September, the National Sports Authority suspended all boxing activities and launched investigations to determine the circumstances leading to his death.
A 10-man interim management committee, chaired by former GBA President Samir Captan, was formed to set reforms that will ensure the safety of boxers in the country. Its immediate tasks include implementing stricter medical and anti-doping protocols, instituting insurance for boxers, and launching capacity-building programs to reform the sport following a suspension of domestic activities.
The committee’s mandate is to restore safety, credibility, and competitiveness, and to prepare for future democratic elections for the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) board
Bahubali’s passing is the second tragedy in Ghanaian boxing this year, following the death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Aluwasegun, who slumped and died in the ring at the same venue in April. The suspension has since been lifted.
