President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given approval for the repayment of a sum of $45,000 to Ghana’s first-ever world boxing champion, David Kotei, popularly known as D.K. Poison.
The Boxing legend was said to have lent the money to the Ignatius Kutu Acheampong-led administration in 1976, which was used to purchased mackerel during the economic hardship in the late 70s.
In a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, President Akufo-Addo directed the Ministry of Finance “to take the necessary action to give effect to this directive”, adding that the payment was being made on “compassionate grounds.”
This followed a petition D.K. Poison and his lawyers presented to the Presidency in September 2019.
In the petition, they sought a refund of the money D.K. Poison loaned to the state of Ghana over four decades ago.
The boxing legend was reported to have received a total sum of $75,000 for winning his second title defence against Shigefumi Fukuyama in Japan in 1976.
He loaned the full amount to the then-Acheampong-led military government to salvage an economic crisis.
However, Mr Kotei said out of the amount, GH¢34,000, which was equivalent to $30,000 at the time, was transferred to him.
By this, there was an outstanding arrears of $45,000.
