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Boxing ring seizure by Ghana Customs serves the country
poorly
Accra, Feb 16, Ghanadot/GNA – A key member of the British
Boxing Club currently in the country as guests of the
Greater Amateur Boxing Association (GAABA) is displeased
with the seizure of a boxing ring they brought into the
country as a gift to their guests.
Kenneth Marsh, a Metropolitan Police Officer, who is the
Treasure and Coordinator of the Haringey Police and
Community Boxing Club in London, said he was disappointed
that the ring had been embargoed at the Kotoka International
Airport.
He said it cost the Haringey club about ?5,000 (five
thousand British pounds) to procure the ring and get it down
to Accra and could not understand why they had been asked to
pay C2,000 before it would be released to them after having
established that the ring was meant to be a gift.
The Treasurer said their gesture was to boost GAABA’s
efforts in ridding the streets of the youth by providing
them with the opportunity to take to boxing and redefine
their lives.
Looking very disturbed, Mr Marsh said under the
circumstances, all they had to do was to inform the British
High Commission about their plight, adding that such
situations would discourage people from helping the sport.
On how the Haringey Club is sustained, Mr Marsh said they
indulged in fund raising activities to fill their coffers
and prosecute their programmes.
The coordinator disclosed that his club had embarked on
tours in about 10 countries and had produced boxers for the
English national team, while three of their products were in
the paid ranks.
He said it was a community project which attracted the
sympathy and goodwill of wealthy members of the society who
support it to achieve its goal of getting the kids out of
the streets and away from crime.
The leader of delegation, Mr Chris Hall said it was the
intention of the Club to invite the GAABA team to
reciprocate their visit and promised to sustain the new
relationship they had established with the Ghanaian
Association.
Meanwhile, Mr Richard O. Lamptey, General Secretary of the
Ghana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) assured the visitors
that he would assist them in clearing the ring at the
airport.
He presented Ghana 2008 T shirts to members of the British
team on behalf of the national association.
GNA
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