On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) leadership welcomed the Black Rockets, Ghana’s national youth boxing team, to Olympic House. The team, led by the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) delegation, had just returned from a triumphant stint at the Africa Youth Amateur Boxing Championship in Guinea Conakry, where they clinched three gold medals.
The GBF delegation consisted of President DSI Bernard Quartey, 1st Vice President Alhaji Dauda Fuseini, 2nd Vice President Solomon Otoo Lartey, Treasurer Mustapha Nettey, and Communication Officer Charles Jojo Ephson.
The Black Rockets’ winning team comprised Desmond Pappoe (18) in the middleweight (75kg) category, Mathias Ashitey (18) in the flyweight (51kg) division, and George Nii Nortey Dowuona (17) in the bantamweight (54kg) category. Coach Joseph Martey trained the team to achieve this remarkable feat.
During the meeting, President Quartey expressed his delight in the team’s unexpected success, stating, “We didn’t expect them to get to where they were able to get to by way of taking medals… But looking at their performance whilst the tournament was ongoing, we started pushing them for them to know that they have what it is to bring a good medal, not silver or bronze.” He attributed the team’s success to their dedication and the GBF’s unwavering support despite financial constraints.
Quartey also announced plans to open up opportunities for other boxers to compete in the upcoming Youth Olympic qualifiers in Angola this December. “We are going to open up for other boxers who are ready to meet their dreams,” he said.
GOC President Richard Akpokavie Esq. congratulated the team and the GBF for their outstanding display, emphasizing that the GOC would provide solid support to the team in their quest to qualify for the Youth Olympics. “When you qualify for the Youth Olympics, you have a big platform. The whole world will be watching, and that will open doors for you in terms of moving towards the Olympics in 2028,” he said.
Akpokavie cautioned the boxers against complacency, stressing that the journey has just begun. “Don’t think that you have arrived. You have to prepare, show everybody that this is not by mistake. You have worked hard for it, and you continue to do that so that you qualify.”
The GOC President also highlighted the significance of winning an Olympic medal, saying, “Winning an Olympic medal is worth more than gold.” He advised the Black Rockets to focus on qualifying for the Youth Olympics, explaining that the IOC brought the Youth Olympics to provide a platform for young people to perform before the main Olympics.
The GOC leadership was represented by President Richard Akpokavie Esq., Secretary General Kassim Mohammed Muniru, Treasurer Evans Yeboah, Assistant Treasurer Nii Lante Bannerman, Board Members Kamal Sulley and George Lamptey.
In his concluding remarks, Akpokavie reiterated the GOC’s commitment to supporting the team. “We’ll continue to do our best to make sure that this thing continues. We’ll come in when we are preparing for these qualifiers for the Youth Olympics, and we’ll see how we can support all of you to make sure that we’re able to do.”
