“I blame the backroom staff for death of Nigerian boxer, not GBA” – Ernest Henry Norgbey

Hon. Ernest Henry Norgbey is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports and Recreation. He is also the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman. He stated that he does not blame the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) for Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju's death. Instead, he holds the boxer's backroom staff responsible.

Olanrewaju collapsed during a match with Jon Mbanagu on March 28. He was taken to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

In an interview with Citi Sports, Hon. Norgbey stressed the importance of medical personnel in sports like boxing. He said every athlete should have a personal doctor for regular check-ups. He noted that boxing is physically demanding and requires careful monitoring.

Norgbey reviewed footage of the incident and mentioned there was no significant hit before Olanrewaju fell. Therefore, he does not see how GBA could be at fault.

He emphasized that if the boxer's support team had conducted proper checks, this tragedy might have been avoided. Athletes coming to fight in Ghana should ensure they have their own doctors present.

Before entering the ring, it is crucial for doctors to clear fighters' health status. Norgbey reiterated that GBA should not be held responsible for what happened.

In response to this incident, the Minister for Youth and Sports has formed a committee to investigate Olanrewaju's death. This tragic event has cast a shadow over boxing in Ghana.