Young towering heavyweight boxer Ishmeal Djan was featured on the Boxing Day Rumble at the Idrowhyt Events Centre at Dansoman and after winning his third professional bout against Richard Ashong, he announced himself to the world of boxing.

In an interview ring announcer Mohammed Amin Lamptey, he explained that his nick name is to put opponents to sleep, hence his inscription on his dress.

Ishmael Djan weighs 250 pounds and his target is the world title.

Because he failed to join the Ghana Armed Forces on two occasions, he decided to do sports and boxing was his choice.

He is registered at the Black Panthers Boxing Gym at James Town and every blessed day he learns a new thing.

He is managed by B.J. Wise and they want to prove that a Ghanaian can win the world heavyweight title.

His idols and best boxers are Mohammed Ali and Tyson Fury.

According to him, he is into the game of boxing as a beginner and hopes to become one o best boxers.

“My goal is to became famous and rich in boxing and we are are getting there gradually” he told Yours Truly.

His dream is to meet the best in the world of boxing, like Floyd Mayweather, Oscar Dela Hoya, Anthony Joshua, Bob Arum and he believes it will come to pass.

He thanked Cabic Promotions, Box Office and Aborigines Promotions for giving him the platform on Boxing Day Rumble at Idrowhyt Events Centre.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

William Amponsah, a 21-year-old student of the University of Education, Winneba has won the maiden edition of the Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon held on Boxing Day.

Amponsah, officially now holds the new record for 21km in Ghana having clocked a time of 1:02:51 to win the ultimate GHC 10,000 cash prize as well some goodies from sponsors.

Afaylar Samuel, a student from the University of Cape Coast placed second taking home a GHC5,000 cash prize while Ishmael Arthur, a military officer took home GHC3000 cash prize having placed third.

Speaking to the media after setting the new national record, Amponsah was elated to have broken his previous personal best (1:04:38) to achieve this new milestone and hopes for a better future in his long-distance running career.

The race was keenly contested especially with Kenyans, Ivorians coming in but my target was to win the race and am glad I finally did and in an impressive way.

"The era of Covid-19 has really been challenging for long-distance runners but we grateful to the organisers for such an event," he said.

The female race, on the other hand, was won by 16-year-old Belinda Sergbor who also won GHC 10,000 cash prize followed by Sherrifa Moro who placed second (GHC5000) while Babulweri Felicia took home GHC3000 third position cash prize.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, Western Regional Minister, was excited with the successful organisation of the maiden edition of the Marathon and was hopeful about it being one of the biggest long distances running events in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"We believe that the best way showcasing Sekondi-Takoradi to the world is by organising such marathons because all the big cities in the world can be associated with big marathons, you can talk of London Marathon, Boston Marathon, among Others.

"This year's event did attract some few foreign nationals but next year we expecting over 1000 athletes from all over the world and it would certainly be bigger," he said.

The maiden edition of Sekondi-Takoradi Marathon was organised by Medivents Consults in collaboration with the Western Regional Coordinating Council and sponsored by Cowbell, The Inquisitor, GOIL, Acqua-Blue, GNPC Foundation, Ghana Gas, Africa World Airlines, Best Western Plus, Mybet. Africa, among others.

GNA

The Idrowhyt Events Centre at Akukor Foto, Dansoman offered a unique serene and exciting atmosphere on December 26 as they staged their first boxing show dubbed “Boxing Day Rumble” with a few special guests and VVIPs in attendance.

Former IBF, IBO Bantamweight Champion of the world, Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko was on the bill to boast the Ghana Boxing brand and he displayed marvelously to the admiration of all present.

Agbeko, 41, (38-5-0) dismissed experienced Albert Commey with a round 5 KO in their Super Flyweight contest to announce his preparation for another crack at a world title.

The package put up by Cabic Promotions in collaboration with Box Office and Aborigines Promotions saw former WBO Africa Super Welterweight Champion, Patrick Allotey overwhelming Voltarian Victus Kemavor to force his corner to throw in the towel in the second round.

Improved Emmanuel Quaye, also from the stable of Cabic took out Raymond Ansah in the third round of their Super Welterweight bout

An exciting super featherweight contest between Issufu Yusuf of Akotoku Academy and Joshua Owusu saw the latter who bragged at the weigh in going down via a R3 knock out and had to be revived by the medics.

In the heavyweight contest, Richard Ashong could not stand the powerful punches of young but big Ismael Djan who has warned all the heavyweight boxers in Ghana and Africa that he is coming with a bang to put opponents into deep sleep.

 Gabriel Coffie also beat Godwin Kofi Appiah in a lightweight contest.

Peter Zwennes, President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) who watched the bouts expressed his joy that boxing is back after is was put on the ropes by the Covid-19.

He commended the promoters who came together to organised the bill, and urged the boxers to take good care of themselves.

Messrs. Ivan Bruce Cudjoe and Ellis Quaye, CEO and Director of Cabic Promotions said they want to take Ghana Boxing to higher levels and win more world titles for the nation. They expressed interest in young disciplined boxers and hoped to put up more shows at the Idrowhyt Events Centre.

Mr. Gideon Oyiadzo aka Jingles, Operations Manager at Idrowhyt said they have more entertainment and sports packages for guests. He commended the media, especially GTV Sports Plus and portals who showed the fights live.

The Boxing Day Rumble was sponsored by Idrowhyt Events Center, Travel Matters and Grey Stone Bistro.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The stage is set for the Special Boxing Day Rumble at the newly opened Idrowhyt Events Centre at Dansoman on Saturday, December, 26, 2020.

The weigh in was successfully held today, Friday 25th December 2020 at the venue of the event with the President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mr. Peter Zwennes in attendance. Also present was the General Secretary, Patrick Johnson, Communications Director, Sammy Heywood Okine and experienced ring official Mr. J. A. Annan.

President of the GBA, Mr. Peter Zwennes commended the collaboration of promoters as a very positive business plan in this times when it is very difficult to organize bouts.

The said the team up of Cabic, Aborigines and Box Office should be highly recommended and copied by other promoters.

He also appealed to the media, especially TV stations to be involved in the boxing business.

According to Peter Zwenness, the Idrowhyt Events Centre is a unique and serene facility that would be an exciting venue to organize boxing bouts.

He stated that Covid-19 took Ghana Boxing to the ropes and nearly known out the GBA, but they survived and fought back in style to be able to sanction other fight in the month of December, 2020

Mr. Ellis Quaye, a director of Cabic Promotions hinted that there would be neither fans nor supporters, however, a few patrons and special guests would watch from the terrace. He said government is backing them to put up a splendid programme, and all Covid-19 protocols would be observed, with tight security.

On the day of the weigh in, former world champion, Joseph King Kong Agbeko was hailed for adding value to the promotion, and inspiring young boxers.

Fighting as a super flyweight, he weighed 116 pounds while his opponent, Commey weighed 117 pounds.

Former WBO Africa Super Welterweight champion Patrick Allotey weighed 155 pounds while Victus Kemavor weighed 143 pounds.

Emmanuel Quaye stood at 158 pounds while Roland Ansah was 157 pounds for the Super Welterweight contest.

Heavyweight boxer on the bill Ishmael Djan of Black Panthers weighed 250 pounds as his opponent, Richard Ashong of Akotoku Academy scaled at 220 pounds.

One bout that is expected to be a thriller is Yussif Seidu 131.4 pounds versus Joshua Owusu 131 pounds in a Super Featherweight fray.

Michael Pappoe from Bukom and other rising boxers will feature on the bill.

By Naa Amerley Commey / Sammy Heywood Okine

Midfielder Samira Suleman has been named Player of the Season and Top Scorer by her Icelandic side UMF Sindri.

The Ghana international was also named in the Team of the Season in the Women's League.

Samira named seven goals in 14 goals during the season and was unanimously chosen by the club's technical team as their best player.

The 29-year-old has been playing in Iceland since 2015.

Samira posted on her Instagram account: ''I'm grateful to Allah and everyone at Sindri football club for this wonderful award especially my teammates, technical team and the amazing supporters. MVP, GoalQueen, Best11 2020.''

The Dunkwa-On-Offin born also runs the Samira Suleman Foundation.

Ghana soccernet

Ever since Kwan Pa, the palm wine music group busted on the Ghanaian entertainment landscape, they have been souring higher and becoming bigger as well as most popular.

During the Christmas festive period their rendition of popular Christmas carols in the palm wine highlife vein have been popular and played across a lot of radio stations in the country.

For the past few years, their name has been synonymous with Christmas, because they have their own ways and means of getting Carols sound better and clearer.

Founded a few years ago, they found it difficult to break through and be accepted, but now Kwan Pa is a multiple award winning band.

Now with the able support of Wahala Entertainment, Kwan Pa is a household name and everybody wants to have a piece of their delicious and fantastic sound.

They are the group that can spice your party, wedding, outdooring and even funerals because they are capable of making the sad very happy.

The four – man group believes in the assertion that Africa has a very rich music culture which is worth flaunting to the world.

The all-male group started with five members from the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, but one had to drop out due to work schedule.

The remaining four are Frederick Agbexoasi Minamor (kpanlogo drums and vocals), Kojo Baah Isaac (shekere, dawuta and vocals), Bismark Kwabena Safo (gome and vocals) and the leader Andrew Nkansah Asah (guitar and vocals) — all instrumentalists from the Presbyterian Church, Ebenezer Congregation, Mamprobi, Accra.

The dynamic young men who sing and perform with instruments such as the Seperewa (Harp-lute), Frikyiwa (castanet), Dawuta (Twin bell), Shekere (big rattle), Gome (square bass drum), Kpanlogo drums and the Acoustic guitar are a delight to watch.

They are a resident band at Zen Garden, and entertain guests and patrons every Tuesday and special occasions.

Kwan Pa have created a new trend and made it their own genre which is a blend of Ghanaian and western elements infused into music.

Their first is ‘Felix Cannot Dance’, which was directed by Wahala Entertainment. The song also featured the winners of ‘Di Asa’ and superstar bloggers Emmanuel Appiah and Samuel Appiah who also shot the video while acting as Felix.

The song is a completely different local rendition of the famous Christmas carol ‘Feliz Navida’.

Wahala Entertainment has put Kwan Pa on a different pedestal and they have released albums including ‘Music from Africa’.

Kwan Pa believes in the assertion that Africa has a very rich music culture which is worth flaunting to the world. We believe that African music is never outdated or perhaps irrelevant as some people may perceive it to be.

Never miss an opportunity to watch them perform, and this can be done every Tuesday at the Zen Garden at Labone in Accra.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

John Laryea aka ‘Expensive Boxer’ was on Wednesday night crowned the new National Featherweight Champion of Ghana after defeating Kamaradeen Boyefio of Charles Quartey Foundation Gym at the Seconds Out Gym in Accra.

Laryea who is trained by Coach Carl Lokko of the Bronx Gym won on a round 3 TKO.

The 20yr old featherweight John "Expensive Boxer" Laryea (8-0-1) has promised to go for the African and Commonwealth titles before thinking about the world titles as he wants to become a great experienced and expensive champion.

Dan Selasie Gosh who made a pro debut won on a round 2 TKO against James Nortey.

Other boxers who won on the night were Kpakpo Allotey, Jacob Dickson, and Felix Ajom all of the Bronx Gym.

Osumanu Haruna met Ibrahim Marshall for the National Heavyweight title, while Iddrisu Kalu also faced Mawuli Ofolivi for the National Middleweight belt. In the epic national heavyweight fight 40yr old Haruna Osumanu (12-1, 8 KO's) had a KO victory over 44yr old Ibrahim Marshall (13-11-1).

Super featherweight Patrick "The Mallet" Okine (21-4-2, 18 KO's) also won by a round 2 KO victory.

Super middleweight Stephen Abbey (16-18) with the MD-8 upset had victory over Delali Miledzi (14-1) to hand Miledzi his first loss - Miledzi struggled with a closed eye halfway through the bout. Official scores 78-75, 76-76 & 78-73.

All the bouts were interesting, and the few boxing fans who were ar the venue complied with all the health and safety protocols.

New Champion, John Laryea said on his Facebook page “I give thanks to God Almighty for this wonderful gift in my career to be crowned National Featherweight Champion of Ghana .To my Manager Samuel Anim Addo my Coach Lawrence Lokko , my fans all over the world , thank you all for your support.

A special one to my Superstar bro @mathewcudjoe16 , Thank you for the winning Jersey & Congratulations on you WAFU. U20 Success”.

For Gosh, his long time trainer Lokko said “another chapter as been Open, Great talent in all STANDARD Daniel Selasi Gorsh”

He thanked Leslie Brown of L & B Boxing Management and Samuel Anim Addo for their support.

Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian sports Journalists who habitually write or talk about boxing have commended the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) for battling and surviving the fight against the Corona virus aka Covid-19.

After 10 months of no professional boxing bouts in Ghana, the boxing body has been able to support some promoters to come up with exciting bouts to climax the season.

The promoters and boxing gyms namely; Fight Ready Promotions, Errol Hawk Management, Seconds Out Gym, Bronx Gym, Wisdom Gym, Ace Power Promotions, Box Office Promotions, Cabic Promotions and Aborigines Promotions have all contributed to the survival and revival of professional boxing in the country.

Ben Neequaye of the Graphic Sports said he was impressed as all the safety and health protocols were observed in the very first post Covid-19 bill at the Seconds Out Gym on December 17, 2020. The night exposed USA Born Ghanaian boxer Eslih Owusu who is coached by Okoe Odamtten, trainer of former WBA Welterweight champion, Ike Bazooka Quartey.

The second promotion at the same venue was on December 23, 2020 which saw the crowing of John Laryea of Bronx Gym, the Expensive Boxer as the new National Featherweight Champion.

The third promotion by Ace Power takes place at the Ga Mashie Hall of the Trust Sports Emporium on December 24, 2020, and Prince Dornu-Leiku, a sports journalist has been involved in the organization. He said it had not been easy, but at the long run, they had a smooth sailing.

Gideon ‘Jingles’ Ohiadzo, the marketing coordinator of Cabic Promotions says they have complied with all the health and safety measures and promise an interesting night on Boxing Day December 26, at the Idrowhyt Events Centre.

Alex Ntiamoah – Boakye of Box Office who is supporting many boxers to get in shape, and not get rusty said the boxers need to survive and they have succeeded in the fight against Covid -19.

Nii Nettey, a reporter at BoxingGhana who was Ring Announcer / MC in the two shows at Seconds Out Gym commended the boxers, coaches, officials and the few fans for their discipline and comportment in applying all the safety restrictions.

Mr. Patrick Johnson, General Secretary of the GBA and Yours Truly, the Communications Director also commends the media, especially the sports portals and television stations supporting Ghana Boxing.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Renowned TV anchor Nana Aba Anamoah has donated various items to ‘Wonder Club’Accra Great Olympics following their sensational start to the season.

Nana Aba stormed the training grounds of the ‘Wonder Club’ on Tuesday to make the presentation to the playing body.

The items include several bags of rice, bottles of drinks and water.

Accra Great Olympics took to their official Twitter handle and announced the presentation by the Diva.

"Like the wise men from the east, top fan @thenanaaba

"came by our training grounds with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

"She added rice and boxes of water too. Christmas treeHugging face".

Nana Aba Anamoah reacted to Gt. Olympics tweet by wishing the team Merry Christmas.

The news anchor of GHOne TV has associated herself with Great Olympics for some time now.

It would be recalled that she was appointed the club's head of marketing, sponsorship and branding in 2018 and is currently a member of the management team of the ‘Dade Boys’

Meanwhile Accra Great Olympics are in the form of their life this season, having won three, drawn one and lost one in six games and have a game in hand.

They have won back to back games: defeated Asante Kotoko in an outstanding game on Thursday, before edging WAFA on Sunday.

They have been tending on social media for a while now.

Accra Great Olympics have another test on their hand on Thursday 23rd December, 2020 the Accra Sports Stadium as they take on Ebusua Dwarfs in another outstanding league game.

From Naa Amerley Commey

MTN Ghana’s People Management practices has received recognition at the third Africa Human Resources Innovation Award held in Accra. MTN carried the day by winning six prestigious awards which was also the highest to be received by any nominee at the event.

The awards received were; HR Innovation of the Year, HR Team of the Year (Gold), Outstanding Employee Retention Policy and Employer of the Year.

The awards were in recognition of MTN’s excellent HR practices and models, innovation and resilience in the HR space and many initiatives employed by MTN especially in this challenging year.

The Human Resources Executive of MTN Ghana, Amma Benneh-Amponsah received two personality awards for her Outstanding Contribution to HR Industry. She was also named among the Africa Top 50 HR Leaders.

Receiving the awards, the Human Resources Executive, Amma Benneh-Amponsah expressed her appreciation to the organizers for the recognition.

She said, “recognition is very important especially in in a very unusual year.   The awards received will urge MTN Ghana to prioritize continuous improvement in people management that translates into improved products and services for our cherished customers.”

“There hasn’t been a better time for HR practitioners to make a difference and we need to take the leadership in our respective organizations towards making the shifts required to sustain businesses, protect jobs and sustain employee engagement in the workplace”

Answering the question on what MTN did differently to win the highest awards for the day, Amma said,” MTN is a feedback and insight driven organization and both internal and external initiatives are people and customer driven.  A focus on the customer both internal and external has enabled MTN to be productive, efficient and effective in serving its people and customers during this difficult time.”

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana Mr. Selorm Adadevoh congratulated the HR Executive and her team for her leadership in ensuring MTN continues to practice and employ best HR practices. “He said “Today, majority of MTN employees are working from home and work is going on. Kudos to Amma for the great leadership skills in developing and implementing policies that contributes to the success of the business. A big congratulations to the HR Team for the collaboration and the sterling performance.”

The Africa Human Resources Innovation Awards formerly Ghana Human Resources Innovation Awards is an annual celebration of leading Human Resource Practitioners and organizations with Top-notch HR models who have made sterling contributions to the corporate sector over the years. MTN has picked many awards since its participation.

From Sammy Heywood Okine