Boxer Samuel Takyi has been dropped from Ghana’s Amateur boxing team preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers after he demanded to be paid $20,000 promised him by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The 22-year-old ended a 29-year wait for an Olympic medal for Ghana when he won bronze in the boxing event at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
After his feat, Akufo Addo announced that Takyi would be given a car, $10,000 in cash, plus a further $20,000 to be put in a fund towards his future.
According to the President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation, Bernard Quartey, Takyi has demanded all that was promised him be paid before he participates in the 2024 qualifiers.
This and other demands left the GBF no choice but to drop him.
“He was also demanding the money that was pledged by the president [Akufo-Addo] is $20,000 which was supposed to be used as a developmental fee for him,” the GBF president said, as quoted by Ghanaweb.
“Secondly, he demanded that before he joined the team, he should be given an Olympic Scholarship. These are the conditions he demanded but we don’t have the power to dictate it. He is welcome to join but not with conditionalities.
“Looking at the situation, the coach thought it wise that he was not prepared psychologically. We are going with this team and if someone in his weight qualifies it means we have to find another weight for him at the next qualifies.”
Meanwhile UK-based Ghanaian, Seth Gyimah also known as Freezy Macbones has been included in the Black Bombers team and is already with them as they prepare for the trip to Dakar, Senegal.
Ghana will be competing to secure qualification in five of seven weight categories in the African qualifiers scheduled for 9-15 September.
For boxers who fail to earn quota spots in Dakar, there will be a further opportunity at the two world qualification tournaments in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from 29 February to 12 March and Bangkok, Thailand from 23 May to 3 June.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
