According to the press statement dated September 25, 2025, the decision was made in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
The statement explained that the suspension comes just 11 days after Akushey’s last bout, a highly anticipated contest at the Bukom Boxing Arena on September 12th, where he was stopped in the eighth round by Jacob Dickson.
It added that the 32-year-old super middleweight was confirmed dead in the early hours of Tuesday, September 23, at the LEKMA Hospital in Teshie, Accra and that his manager, Shatta Roco, said in an interview that Akushey had been diagnosed with malaria after the fight, but that doctors discovered “several other issues” during his admission in the hospital.
The statement explained that the move reflects the joint commitment of the NSA and the Sports Ministry to prioritise the safety, health, and welfare of athletes.”
It further revealed that prior to this incident, authorities had finalised plans to implement a “comprehensive five-year safety and development plan” for the sport, anchored by a nine-member Interim Management Committee (IMC).
Local media reports quoted the statement as saying that the reforms are designed to “strengthen medical, technical, and regulatory procedures, ensuring that when boxing returns, it will operate under safer, more professional, and globally aligned standards.”
The statement also noted that the suspension is in line with a committee set up by the Sports Minister following the recent death of the Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju.
