A video of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings explaining why he prevented legendary boxer Azumah Nelson from joining the Ghana Air Force has resurfaced online.

Rawlings, who was then in charge of the Armed Forces boxing team, said Nelson regularly trained with the team ahead of the World Military Games, which were held in Ghana.

In the footage, the former president said during that period he noticed that the young boxer had the potential to excel in the sport.

Flashback: Jerry John Rawlings is dead

According to him, Nelson tried on one or two occasions to join the Air Force, but he decided to prevent him from doing so.

“Azumah Nelson, he tried to join the Air Force, but I prevented it. Nelson used to come and train with us when I took charge of the Armed Forces Boxers, towards the World Military Games and the boxing was staged here in Ghana. I noticed some fire in Azumah Nelson. He was good. And once or twice, he tried to join the Air Force,” Rawlings said.

Rawlings explained that although joining the military would have offered Nelson some form of security, he feared the nature of military life could affect the qualities he believed would help him succeed as a boxer.

“My fear was that that security in the Air Force, the routine procedures in the Air Force, would subdue some of the flame that I could see [in him],” he said.

He said he believed Nelson needed to remain outside the military and experience the challenges of life that, in his view, would help sustain his determination.

“I thought it was rather important to leave him out there to confront, you know, the difficulties in his life that are helping to sustain the flame in him.


“That is what he would need if he had to be a world champion. And I could see that potential in him,” he said.

Rawlings stressed that his decision was taken with what he considered a noble purpose.

“That is what he would need if he had to be a world champion ... So, it was towards a noble purpose. I didn't want us to destroy it," he added.

Azumah Nelson went on to become one of Ghana’s most celebrated boxers, winning world titles in two weight divisions and earning recognition as one of Africa’s greatest boxers.

Rawlings, who served as Ghana’s Head of State from 1981 to 1992 and President from 1993 to 2001, died in November 2020 at the age of 73.

Watch the video below:

“Azumah Nelson tried to join the Ghana Air Force, but I prevented him.”

— A resurfaced video of the late former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings recounting how he stopped boxing legend Azumah Nelson from joining the Ghana Air Force, a decision that helped shape the career… pic.twitter.com/ctTqofNsDr

— 𝐀𝐒𝐊 (@askghmedia) September 24, 2026