NSA boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and former boxer Ayittey Powers
The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has cautioned former boxer Ayittey Powers to be mindful of his utterances against personalities in the sporting sector.
The controversy stems from the NSA’s decision to suspend all boxing activities following the tragic death of Ghanaian boxer Ernest Akushey, alias Bahubali, who passed away on September 23, 2025, just days after a sanctioned bout.
On September 26, 2025, the NSA announced its directive, sparking outrage within the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and among promoters.
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During this period, Ayittey Powers’ scheduled bout was canceled, which infuriated the former boxer and led him to attack Ampofo Ankrah and other personalities in charge of boxing events.
Addressing the issue at a press conference held by the Ghana Boxing Interim Management Committee (IMC) at the Accra Sports Stadium on February 24, 2026, the NSA boss urged the ex-boxer to exercise decorum in his public remarks to safeguard the brand.
“Ayittey Powers is my good friend; I respect him as a former boxer. We all know he is no longer a boxer, he talks for a living, so some of the things he says I don’t take personally; it’s entertaining when I hear him.
“However, on a serious note, he should remember that he represents a brand, so he shouldn’t be using smearing, insulting, and provocative language. He should think carefully about the things he says and the individuals he attacks, especially regarding compensation of any sort,” he said.
Ampofo Ankrah further warned Ayittey Powers about his public rants, saying, “I explained why we took the decision, but unfortunately his bout was affected. How he interpreted the ban and suspension was a miscommunication. Now that boxing is back, he needs to go through the proper process to lobby and get support, rather than attacking and insulting people.”
SB/JE
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