Don King throws challenge to Prez Kufuor

CONTROVERSIAL BOXING promoter Don King has challenged the Kufuor administration to halt the practices of shipping our raw products cheaply to Europeans who then turn them into manufactured goods to sell back to us at cut-throat prices.

This is what is killing the Ghanaian economy and creating massive unemployment, he said. “We have to process and refine all our natural resources right here, and that can be sold abroad rather than selling natural materials in its raw state to the white land for its price dictatorship,” King advocated.

Interviewed on the Kwaku Sakyi-Addo hosted GTV programme Kwaku One on One, King urged the Kufuor administration to team up with the youth of Ghana and prune out their potential for economic empowerment. He advised the government to stop listening to the prescription of Europeans. Don King expressed cdonfidence in the Kufuor administration saying he knows the Blackman is not inferior under any circumstances and that Ghana will surely succeed, as more businesses are going to be set up to generate income and employment.

“I can see the Kufuor administration establishing that idea.”

Reminded that many African-Americans had often come to Ghana and spoken eloquently about promises, pledges and nothing happened, King replied: “Well that is their own palava. I come to Ghana asking not what Ghana can do for me, but what can I do for Ghana and so it is a different prospect altogether; I am not looking for anything. I am very wealthy already.”

On the issue of whether he was in Ghana to search for prospective boxers, he made it clear that that was purely business and that, if that happens it could be a factor.

“I am always being creative for the masses, not for the classes and I work for the people, not they working for me.”

“Ghana is a great country with great history and the people who live here are very lovely in terms of hospitality, which has resulted in the ongoing developments taking place in Ghana.”

Asked whether, he wanted Lenox Lewis in his camp he said that Lewis is a great heavyweight boxer and he would love to have him, but it has proved unfruitful. He also acknowledged that the right time for that has elapsed. He also spoke on ex-heavyweight champ Mike Tyson.

“Mike Tyson mustn’t fight anymore. What you saw was not a fight, it was a beating, with many devastating blows, which is still healing. But fighting again is a decision he has to make himself. I think he mustn’t.”

“Tyson was not prepared, .... and it resulted in this. I expect Tyson to quit boxing together with Lewis.”

Questioned on the celebration of September 11 in America, the Don made it clear that terrorism is not new to America, especially to the black man in America. He said that terrorism is growing in different forms everyday, so it is left with countries to always develop pre-solutions to them.

“We need to always prepare, because the world is full of unfairness, and injustice to me is terrorism.” Asked how far racism has caught up in America, he said, the black will always face racism and that it is left with blackmen to show how prepared they are.

“Racism will continue to hurt the blackman because among the blacks we don’t trust one another, fight for one another and collectively do things together.” Asked the secret behind his success, Don King said “the secret ... is the belief in God, determination and being prepared to face all odds.” He said, when asked who he is seeing emerging as the best boxer in the world, that they were many from the various continent in the world. Asked who, between Lennox Lewis and boxing legend Mohammed Ali was his favourite fighter, he said every boxer has a unique style. “But Mohammed Ali remains the best boxer in the world,” he added.