Mr Rawlings, in a press statement, said it is gratifying that the President chose to approve the payment on compassionate grounds.

It is also noteworthy, it added, that the President’s decision was informed by the report of an investigative team that looked into the retired world champion’s petition before the payment was approved.

For decades now, the country has observed how outstanding sportsmen have become destitute because of the lack of a steady income and the payment will see D.K. Poison out of that league.

To Mr Rawlings, the testament of gratitude D.K. Poison can show to the President and the country, will be to manage the funds judiciously.

“I take this opportunity to urge our successful sportsmen to endeavour to manage their resources in a prudent manner as they retire relatively younger and have to contend with whatever resources they earned while in active sports.

“It is also important that our successful sportsmen show graciousness to some of our retired sportsmen who are in need,” it concluded.

A statement, signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, noted that the payment is being made on compassionate grounds.

The statement, copied to the Sports Minister, Isaac Asiamah, has since directed the Ministry of Finance to effect the necessary action.

This comes after President Nana Akufo-Addo assured him he would look into the lingering case of the possible State debt.

D.K. Poison had been waiting for more than four decades for the re-payment of a loan he extended to the Government of Ghana from his fight purse.

According to the legend, he earned a purse of $75,000 from that bout and was paid an amount of 34,000 cedis, through a transfer at the then Barclays Bank, which was equivalent to $30,000 at the time.

This meant that an outstanding amount of $45,000 was to be paid to him.

The loan was advanced purely on a gentleman’s agreement with officials of the then Military Government of Ghana, back in Tokyo Japan where D.K. Poison had won his second title defence against Shigefumi Fukuyama.

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At the time, there was economic difficulty in Ghana and the unavailability of foreign exchange further complicated issues.

Meanwhile, a Joy News/Joy Sports Hotline documentary, The Boxing Loan aired on Monday, October 5, 2020, highlighted this all-important angle.

Below is the full statement:

D.K. Poison was served his first glass of champagne by then Head of State of Ghana, Gen I.K. Acheampong at a special reception upon his arrival in Accra, with the title he had snatched from Mexican Reuben Olivares.

D.K. Poison had a carnival welcome at the Kotoka International Airport with many others lining the streets to show their appreciation for the glory he had brought the nation and the joy he had brought them. 

This was after he had been decorated with the Grand Medal of the Republic of Ghana, one of the nation’s highest honours, on the tarmac.

He sat on one couch with the head of state and had a conversation – one very great privilege his new status had earned him.

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“Yes I sat with the Head of state and it was the first time I had champagne. It was the first time in my life and it was great. I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t like beer, it wasn’t like wine, I was in between. It was pleasant,” he fondly recollected.

He was now a celebrity and had to deal with the demands of public life. “It was hectic for me because anytime I went somewhere crowds gathered. I don’t know how to describe the feeling,” he said.

His welcome at the airport is something he describes as mixed feelings.

“Tears flowed down my eyes when I saw the crowd.  The only crowd I could compare it to was when General Kotoka died. People lined up from the cathedral to the Osu Cemetery. But mine was exceptional,” he said.

The champion recollected that the crowd that greeted his arrival was all the way from the Airport through Golden Tulip Hotel, past Accra Girls Senior High School (at least 4 km).

These accounts are part of highlights of D.K. Poison’s documentary ‘The Boxing Loan’ which will be aired on the Joy News channel (DSTV 421 and free-to-air) ahead of the commemoration of his 45th anniversary of annexing the title which falls on September 20.