Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has established a seven-member committee of enquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Nigerian boxer Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, widely known as ‘Success.’
Olanrewaju died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after collapsing during a boxing match at the Trust Sports Emporium Boxing Arena in Bukom last month.
His death has sparked widespread debate over athlete safety, drawing intense scrutiny toward the Bel 7 Star Ghana Boxing League, where the incident occurred.
In response to public concern, the Sports Minister had earlier vowed to launch an investigation—forming the committee marks the first major step in fulfilling that promise.
The committee is chaired by Major (Retired) Amarkai Amarteifio and includes former Ghana Boxing Authority President Peter Zwennes, seasoned sports journalists Ekow Ansah and Samuel Bartels, as well as Eddie Pappoe, Juliana Addo-Yobo, and Martin Engmann.
The panel has been tasked with determining whether organisers of the bout followed appropriate protocols to prevent the tragedy.
According to its terms of reference, the committee will “determine the circumstances leading to the death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju at the Bukom Boxing Arena on March 29, 2025.” It will also assess whether the match organisers and promoters adhered to international safety standards, and whether Nigerian licensing authorities acted diligently in approving Olanrewaju for the international bout in Accra, considering his qualifications and experience.
The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) has expressed serious concerns about the events leading to the boxer’s death. In a formal letter, the board cited alleged negligence by the Ghana Boxing Authority.
Key issues raised include a mismatch in weight categories—Olanrewaju was reportedly allowed to fight for a light-heavyweight title while weighing 85kg, which falls under cruiserweight. The board also claimed no medical examination was conducted during weigh-in, and pointed out a discrepancy in the fight date—their release letter had approved the bout for March 28, not March 29, with no notice of rescheduling.
An autopsy later revealed that Olanrewaju died from sudden cardiac arrest during the fight.
The 40-year-old boxer was declared dead at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after collapsing in the ring during Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu.
Olanrewaju, a former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, had been active professionally since 2019. He competed in 24 professional bouts, recording 13 wins (12 by knockout), nine losses, and two draws.
