Our boxing hero DK Poison is at last getting back his money. Mr. President must be congratulated on being Ghana’s only first gentleman to see the need to order the refund of the old boxer’s money.
The DK Poison episode defines a significant subject on how we treat our heroes in this country.
We wish we could tell how the retired boxer is feeling after supporting his motherland and being subjected to the unwarranted treatment at the hands of especially the junta which ruled the country and the successive governments. They did not see the need to refund his money the reasons for which are beyond imagination.
He must have regretted rescuing his motherland, a remorse which should not have affected the patriotic spirit of future citizens of this country.
It would be interesting to observe what he would say were he to be questioned by young boxers of today about whether it pays to be patriotic.
Having suffered this ill-treatment, he could easily say do not die for this country because it is not worth it.
A person who out of patriotic reasons decided to loan part of his winnings from a bout to save a starving nation should not have been treated the way D.K. Poison was.
Perhaps the only thing we did for him as a nation was name a street ‘DK Poison Street.’ As for what he loaned to his motherland, he recouped only a part. The rest remained unpaid for the past four decades and more. He could have given up on ever receiving the money in his lifetime.
The two military juntas and the democratic administrations which took over ignored the demand from the legendary boxer to be paid back the loan.
DK Poison was not celebrated enough for putting Ghana on the world map of boxing during his prime period in life.
Aside from the insufficient recognition of his feat, he had to leave with the reality of governments refusing to listen to him after annexing a large boxing trophy to Ghana.
It takes one person, a leader to recognise the contributions of individuals and to reciprocate their gestures appropriately.
President Akufo-Addo has showed he is that leader who is ready to do for his country what it takes to ensure that she is loved by her citizens.
Having listened to the pain suffered by the old boxer, the President did not hesitate to order the payment of the outstanding money.
It is amazing why past leaders did not find it necessary to refund the old boxer’s money, knowing well that it belonged to him.
Selfishness in political leadership can be costly in terms of how much it can negatively impact on the patriotic spirit.
President Akufo-Addo’s gesture very late in the day for the former boxer is still useful.
For the youth, it is a source of encouragement that serving the country still pays, especially when the ilk of an Akufo-Addo presidency exists in a country.
DK, enjoy your booty; it is yours.