President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed that the US$45,000 Ghana owes retired world boxing champion, David Kotei, popularly known as D.K. Poison should be paid to him on “compassionate grounds.”
On September 20, 1975, D.K. Poison became the first Ghanaian to win a world title when he defeated the champion, Reuben Olivares, by split points in a 15-round clash in Inglewood, California.
He lost the title the following year after unanimous points defeat to American Danny “Little Red” Lopez at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The 69-year-old D.K. Poison over the years has been narrating how in 1976, he loaned to the Ghanaian government of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong an amount of $45,000 out of his purse of $75,000 from his second title defence against Japanese Shig Fukuyama for the purchase of some commodities for the state.
According to D.K. Poison, 44 years on, all attempts to reclaim the money from the state have proved futile despite promises by past governments to ensure he was reimbursed with the amount owed him.
In October last year, he met President Akufo-Addo and expressed his gratitude to the President for granting him audience.
An emotional D.K. Poison during his interaction with President Akufo-Addo reiterated his case and in response, President Akufo-Addo promised to resolve the claim by the onetime World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight champion dating over four decades.
Letter from Presidency
In a letter dated September 28, 2020 seen by Graphic Online and signed by the Secretary of the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, President Akufo-Addo has directed that the money should be paid to D.K. Poison on “compassionate grounds.”
The letter was addressed to the Minister of Youth Sports, attention Isaac Kwame Asiamah and copied to the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Finance, the Director General of National Sports Authority, the Chairman of the Ghana Boxing Authority and David Kotei (D.K. Poison).
Below is an excerpt from the letter
RE: PETITION FOR REFUND OF US$45,000.00 BORROWED BY THE STATE FROM FORMER WORLD BOXING CHAMPION D.K. POISON
“With reference your letter … dated 17th June, 2020, I write to convey the approval of the President of the Republic for an amount of Forty-Five Thousand United States Dollars (US$45,000.00) to be paid to Mr David Kotei (a.k.a. D.K. Poison) on compassionate grounds.
By a copy of this letter, the Ministry of Finance is requested to take the necessary action to give effect to this directive.
Please accept the President’s best wishes,” the letter from the Secretary to the President stated.
