A fiery storm has erupted in Ghana’s boxing fraternity, with prominent pugilists unleashing a barrage of “verbal jabs” and ominous threats against self-proclaimed social media pundit and politician, Leo Mensah, widely known as Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah.
Their message is stark: Keep your political meddling out of boxing, or suffer the wrath of the ring.
The fury stems from Okatakyie’s recent, scathing remarks directed at Sharaf Mahama, the third son of former President John Dramani Mahama. Okatakyie plunged headfirst into the boxing arena after Sharaf successfully organized the thrilling ‘Battle of the Beast’ boxing bout at the Bukom Arena last Friday, June 13, in Accra.
On his online platform, “For The Records,” Okatakyie provocatively questioned Sharaf’s source of funding for such a high-profile event. In a move that smacked of political grandstanding, he drew parallels to the controversial multimillion-dollar restaurant business of Edwina, daughter of former President Akufo-Addo – “Nsuomnam,” widely speculated to have cost $6 million and heavily criticized.
Okatakyie’s insinuation was clear: if questions were raised about Edwina’s venture, then Sharaf’s event, given his perceived lack of a known income source, should also face scrutiny, hinting at potential sponsorship from the public purse by his father.
“Just yesterday, John Mahama’s son who has never worked had money to organize a match graced by Anthony Joshua and everyone was applauding. Where did he get the money from?” he publicly questioned.
While Okatakyie offered a lukewarm commendation to Sharaf, claiming he was merely playing a “watchdog role,” his initial comments have ignited a firestorm, particularly among professional boxers who have lauded the event as a crucial step towards reviving the sport in Ghana.
Ghanaian boxing stalwarts, including Emmanuel “Game Boy” Tagoe, Joshua Clottey, and Ayitey Powers, wasted no time in unleashing their venom on social media.
They collectively warned Okatakyie, a known New Patriotic Party (NPP) enthusiast, to confine his attention to politics and refrain from injecting “propaganda and NDC-NPP banters” into their beloved sport.
They argued that Sharaf, far from being scrutinized, deserves commendation for “revolutionizing Ghanaian boxing” and providing “invaluable opportunities” to aspiring boxers both locally and internationally.
The boxers further revealed that Sharaf, a FIFA-licensed football agent and former footballer, has a history of organizing such events without similar questions being raised, questioning why the scrutiny only emerged now that his father is back in the political spotlight.
In a blistering TikTok live session, a visibly incensed “Game Boy” Tagoe minced no words. “If you have issues with his father because of politics you want to attack, don’t involve boxing, if you do, you will regret the way we will dirty you, you won’t like it.
If you are idiotic, we are madder than you. And if you are stupid and you want cheap fame, we have tasted fame long time ago so we will teach you how fame looks like.”
He continued, his voice laced with menace: “So it is not when you are patronized with small money then you talk anyhow we do not want it in boxing.
This is a warning don’t bring your NDC-NPP propaganda here as boxers we detest that else we will search for you as boxers and beat you so much you will regret and it will go nowhere.
So we are warning you, Okatakyie Afrifa if you are listening forget about Sharaf Mahama and leave NDC-NPP out of the promotion he is doing that is what he is doing to support us and the youth so we do not want your propaganda.”
The 33-year-old Game Boy further lambasted Okatakyie, stating, “Leave Sharaf alone, he was doing this when NPP was in power why did you not speak. This is the boxing promotion that has brought excitement to all of us.
He acts like a man but he is no man to us, he is a woman so we are warning you Okatakyie Afrifa if you try that we will look for your station and deal with you.”
He vowed that this threat would not be an empty one, unlike Okatakyie’s past controversial comments about the Ga people, which went unpunished after he reportedly begged for forgiveness.
Joshua Clottey, who moderated the live session and was surrounded by other boxers, echoed Game Boy’s sentiments, emphasizing, “we do not meddle in politics.”
In a separate video, Ayitey Powers also weighed in with his own fiery rebuke. He highlighted the significant impact of Sharaf’s promotion, far surpassing his own efforts as a retired boxer to boost the sport.
“We have a lot of potential boxers who need help, who need promotion and some of some us we can promote but not to the extent Sharaf has done,” Powers stated.
He slammed Okatakyie for criticizing an event that is breathing new life into Ghanaian boxing. “Footballers have been investing in the game but nothing meaningful has come out if.
Now the president has come and they are trying to revive boxing, you said what? Don’t try that else boxers will look for you and beat you. Should boxers not also eat, are they not human being? Okatakyie Afrifa, if I knew where you were, I would have come there to give you dirty slaps.
Nonsense! The money you people stole and the horrible things you people did, is that what Sharaf is doing. Clear off!” he fumed.
The ‘Battle of the Beast’ on Friday was a resounding success, attracting a star-studded audience including Ghana’s legendary world boxing champion, Azumah Nelson, and British-Nigerian heavyweight sensation, Anthony Joshua.
Other notable attendees included Ghanaian boxing champions like Joshua Clottey, prominent businessmen, and the President’s younger brother, Ibrahim Mahama.
The event also drew members of the elite East Legon Executive Club, including business moguls Kwame Despite and Ernest Ofori Sarpong, as well as celebrated artistes like reigning Ghana Music Awards winner King Promise and hitmaker Kojo Blaq.
Sports enthusiasts and journalists alike have universally hailed the event, calling for its frequent recurrence to further invigorate the sport.
Sadiq Adams, a sports journalist who has attended the event twice previously, stressed its importance, albeit acknowledging his bias as a sports professional.
He firmly resisted attempts to delve into Okatakyie’s political comments, recalling that the event has consistently attracted reputable organizational sponsors in the past.
Meanwhile, Sharaf Mahama has hinted that the next highly anticipated boxing event is likely to take place in December.
The stage is set for a continued revival of Ghanaian boxing, a revival the boxing community is fiercely protecting from political interference.