The first name that springs to mind when the word boxing is mentioned in Ghana is Bukom, an undeveloped urban suburb in Accra. Bukom has made a name for itself as the capital of boxing in Ghana and West Africa since independence, a site where so many Ghanaian boxing heroes were born and trained to reach the international stage.
The poor Ga hamlet of Bukom produced Ghanaian boxing legends like Iyke Quartey, Azumah Nelson, and Joshua Clottey. Bukom isn’t recognized for having contemporary boxing facilities like those seen in other nations, but it has produced title-winning champions using makeshift training equipment like concrete blocks and large vehicle tires.
In fact, it is typical to see school-aged children and teenagers training hard in boxing gyms after school in the hopes of one day following in the footsteps of Azumah Nelson and becoming world champions. Children born in Bukom are taught from an early age that fighting is a skill that, if taught well, may lead to glory and wealth.
As a result, youngsters who get into fights on the streets of Bukom are rarely apprehended, as it is thought that it is during these tangos that talented boxers are identified and fostered to conquer the world.
The government of Ghana commissioned an ultramodern 8000 capacitor boxing arena in the village dubbed Bukom Boxing Arena in 2016 to thank the community for producing so many world champions in boxing. While the boxing ring may not be adequate to acknowledge what the community has done for Ghana in terms of sports, it does serve as a reminder that Bukom is the home of Ghanaian boxing.
And if you believed Bukom was done producing world champions, you were very close to being mistaken. Richard Commey, the current International Boxing Federation (IBF) Lightweight champion, is the most recent world champion to emerge from Bukom, adding to the community’s long line of champions. If you ever go on a tour of Accra, be sure to stop by Bukom and take a look around the town that gave birth to Azumah Nelson, Iyke Quartey, and a slew of other global boxing legends.
Ghana Travel Restrictions
Ghana is open to most travelers again. I mean travelers from all over the world. However, you do need proof of your COVID-19 vaccination(s) or a negative test result before being allowed entry.
Many hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and you still have to follow certain guidelines. They are all good for our safety.
Read the ultimate travel guide to Ghana to help you plan your trip.