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Ambassador Ray Quarcoo, the boxer’s pillar
When discussions arise about people who have shaped Ghana boxing, the names of world champions like Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Joshua Clottey, Joseph Agbeko and Isaac Dogbe often dominate the conservation,
Yet behind these celebrated boxers, stands a man whose contribution to the sport has been profound, enduring and largely selfless. This man is Ambassador Ray Quarcoo.
A businessman, sports administrator, philanthropist and mentor, Ambassador Quarcoo has dedicated much of his life to the development of sports in Ghana, particularly boxing.
His contribution spans several decades and cuts across athlete development, administration, infrastructure, international relations and sports journalism.
He has spent decades working quietly behind the scenes, identifying talent, mentoring young athletes, building institutions and investing his personal resources to ensure that Ghana’s rich boxing tradition remains alive
Today, his legacy remains firmly woven into the fabric of Ghana sports, particularly boxing, where his influence has helped shape generations of champions and inspired countless young athletes.
Though he has stepped away from active sports administration, Ambassador Quarcoo remains deeply interested in the progress of Ghana sports.
His passion for sports is rooted in a lifetime of service and sacrifice. As President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF) on two separate occasions and later Vice-President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), he played a central role in strengthening the structures of boxing administration in the country.
Under his leadership, the GABF introduced international exchange programmes with countries such as Britain, the United States and Azerbaijan, giving Ghanaian boxers valuable international exposure.
His influence extended beyond Ghana as an executive member of the International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly AIBA, while he also served as a management member of the Black Stars.
However, it is his role as a mentor and benefactor that has earned him the admiration of generations of athletes.
Former WBA welterweight world champion Ike “Bazooka” Quartey describes him as one of the most influential figures in the lives of many Ghanaian boxers.
According to Quartey, Ambassador Quarcoo paid the school fees of Joshua and Emmanuel Clottey and provided them with accommodation because he believed they possessed the qualities required to become world champions.
His conviction was that young athletes needed both education and discipline to succeed on the world stage.
The investment paid off as Joshua Clottey eventually rose to become an IBF Welterweight World Champion and one of Ghana’s most respected boxing figures.
Veteran sports broadcaster Nathaniel Attoh recalls witnessing Joshua Clottey’s deep appreciation for Ambassador Quarcoo.
Following his world title triumph, Clottey personally visited Ambassador Quarcoo to thank him for the support, guidance and opportunities he had received during his formative years.
The Clottey brothers were only part of a long list of athletes whose careers were positively impacted by Ambassador Quarcoo.
His keen eye for talent led him to identify and support several promising boxers long before they became stars.
Among them were former WBO world champion Isaac Dogboe, Olympian Norris Thompson and British-Ghanaian boxing sensation Joshua Buatsi.
Attoh recalls a memorable telephone conversation in which Ambassador Quarcoo confidently predicted that two young boxers he had discovered would one day become world beaters. Those young athletes were Isaac Dogboe and Joshua Buatsi.
Today, Dogboe has established himself as a former world champion, while Buatsi has become one of the most accomplished boxers of his generation.
One of the defining moments of Ambassador Quarcoo’s administrative career came ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Despite facing criticism and opposition, he stood firmly behind Isaac Dogboe because he recognised the young boxer’s exceptional potential.
According to Attoh, his decision came at considerable personal cost, yet he remained unwavering in his conviction that Dogboe would justify his faith.
His willingness to place principle above personal interest remains one of the many examples of his commitment to athlete development.
Former Black Bombers captain and assistant national coach Kwame Asante recalls how Ambassador Quarcoo sponsored Ghanaian boxing contingents to international competitions and helped facilitate opportunities for coaches and athletes to further their training abroad.
Asante himself benefited from Ambassador Quarcoo’s intervention when he pursued advanced coaching education in Germany. According to him, Ambassador Quarcoo’s passion for boxing was unmatched.
“He was always present wherever boxing was taking place, whether locally or internationally, he supported the sport wholeheartedly,” Asante stated.
His love for grassroots boxing became legendary. Many remember how he regularly travelled across Accra on weekends simply to watch juvenile boxing contests, particularly at the famous Wato Club. Young boxers eagerly anticipated his visits because they came not only with encouragement but often practical assistance and mentorship.
His contribution to boxing infrastructure is equally significant. Ambassador Quarcoo facilitated and financed the establishment of several boxing clubs and gyms in Bukom, including the Black Panther and Panix gyms. These facilities became important breeding grounds for young talents and contributed significantly to Ghana’s boxing success story.
Beyond boxing, Ambassador Quarcoo has also been a steadfast supporter of sports journalism. As a Lifetime Patron of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), he has supported journalists and contributed immensely to preserving Ghana’s sporting history.
His efforts have earned him numerous honours, including recognition from the Ghana Olympic Committee for supporting Ghana’s participation in the Olympic Games and various awards from sporting bodies in appreciation of his service.
Yet those who know him best insist that his greatest achievement lies not in the awards he has received but in the lives he has transformed.
Until his appointment as Goodwill Sports, Ambassador in 2011, he has held several sports administrative positions in the country including the following, President Ghana Boxing Federation 2010-2014, First Vice Chairman Ghana Boxing Authority, Vice Chairman Ghana Black Stars Welfare Committee 1991-1993, Life Patron, Ghana Olympic Committee, Life patron sports writers association of Ghana, Executive Committee Member African Boxing confederation and Patron-African Confederation of Handball.
Ambassador Emmanuel Ray Quarcoo was also in 2013 was appointed as Honorary Consul General of Haiti to Ghana with Exequatur on 25th October 2013.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinui
The professor who spends his days exploring the intricacies of African languages found himself at the centre of a different kind of lesson on Friday, October 2, 2026. 
This time, there were no lecture notes, academic arguments or university classrooms. Instead, there was the weight of tradition, the rhythm of a community celebration and the solemnity of an oath at a royal palace.
Professor Ọbádélé Kambon, a full Professor of African Linguistics at the University of Ghana, was enstooled as Apagyahene and Sunsum Ɔsahene of Akuapem Mampong in the Eastern Region in a ceremony that brought academia and traditional authority together.
For the professor, the occasion was more than a new title. It was a moment that connected his academic interests in African languages and indigenous knowledge with the living traditions of an Akan community.
The day’s events unfolded through a series of customary observances. Kambon was first taken to the compounds of the Ɔkyeamehene and Gyasehene, where the preparations for his installation continued.
Then came the application of hyire, the white kaolin powder associated with traditional rites.
With the customary proceedings underway, the new chief was lifted onto the shoulders of celebrants and carried along the main thoroughfare of Akuapem Mampong.
The procession transformed the streets into a public stage for a ceremony rooted in the community’s traditional institutions.
There was something striking about the image, a university professor, accustomed to the measured language of academic discourse, being carried through the town in a display of traditional recognition.
Yet the celebration was not complete with the procession.
A ram was sacrificed at the Mamponghene’s compound before Kambon was taken to the palace, to swear the oath associated with his new offices.
The ceremony brought him formally into his roles as Apagyahene and Sunsum Ɔsahene.
Beyond the colourful proceedings, the titles themselves carry layers of historical meaning.
Kambon in his research explores the historical connections between Apagya and Akan political and military organisation.
Accounts cited in his work linked Apagya to an asafo, or military company, while historical writing traces an Apagya stool in Asante to the reign of Opoku Ware I in the eighteenth century.
These historical associations offer a glimpse into the institutions that have shaped Akan society over generations, although they do not automatically define the precise responsibilities of the office in Akuapem Mampong.
Kambon’s own professional life reflects a similar interest in preserving and examining African knowledge.
His work encompasses Akan language structure, naming practices across the Black world, proverbs and indigenous intellectual traditions.
Through Abibitumi, the platform he founded, he also promotes language learning, scholarship and cultural engagement.
But tradition was only one part of the story that day.
When the formal ceremony gave way to a reception, the occasion expanded into a celebration of three milestones: Kambon’s enstoolment, his promotion to full professor and his daughter Ama’s admission to the University of Ghana.
The gathering therefore carried a personal significance that went beyond the honours bestowed on one man. 
It celebrated professional advancement, the continuation of family aspirations and a connection to cultural heritage.
For a father, seeing a daughter gain admission to the same university where he holds a distinguished academic position offered another reason to celebrate.
For the professor, the moment placed family achievement alongside his own professional and traditional milestones.
Kambon had already established a place in the traditional life of Akuapem Mampɔn through an earlier installation as Banmuhene Kyidɔmhene, recorded in 2017.
His latest enstoolment adds another chapter to that relationship.
In Akuapem Mampɔn, the day brought together the university, the palace and the family table in one celebration. And for Kambon, the journey from the lecture room to the traditional procession showed how scholarship, cultural responsibility and family achievement could converge in a single memorable occasion.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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ASOHOM organises fundraising gala to protect Ghana’s water resources, support vulnerable communities
The Association of Spouses of Heads of Missions and International Organisations (ASOHOM) last Friday held the 2026 edition of its annual Charity Gala, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra under the theme ‘Woven Currents.’
It was attended by members of the diplomatic and international community, distinguished guests, corporate partners, and artists, friends of Ghana and supporters of ASOHOM’s charitable mission.
What was supposed to be a fundraiser turned into a perfect platform to celebrate friendship, culture and creativity.
Water was at the heart of this year’s message, said Sovanna Taliercio President, ASOHOM and Chairperson of its Fundraising Committee.
“Through art, music and live performance, the gala highlighted the vital connection between water, life and our shared future, while drawing attention to the importance of protecting Ghana’s water resources and supporting sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities,” a statement signed by Ms Taliercio said.
The evening featured a remarkable exhibition of Ghanaian contemporary art, live performances, an auction and raffle, alongside an elegant dinner and opportunities for guests to connect and support the cause.
She expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the event— sponsors, artists, performers, partners, volunteers, ASOHOM members and, most importantly, every guest who chose to support its cause.
“Our fundraising efforts are ultimately about more than one evening. They are about transforming generosity into tangible support for communities in need. The funds raised through ASOHOM’s charitable initiatives will contribute to projects aligned with our humanitarian priorities and our commitment to supporting meaningful and sustainable development in Ghana,” she said.
She expressed pride at what ASOHOM represents: a community of women and men from across the diplomatic and international community who come together beyond their official roles to build bridges, strengthen partnerships and give back to the country we are privileged to call home.
She said the success of ‘Woven Currents’ was a testament to the power of collaboration, compassion and collective action and reminds that with togetherness, small contributions can create lasting impact.
By Spectator Reporter
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