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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
A total of 294 girls missed out on the first phase of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination exercise in the Ayawaso West Municipality, following challenges with parental consent.
Out of the 997 girls targeted in the first round in October this year, only 703 received the vaccine, representing 70 per cent coverage.
Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, a Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate, disclosed this in an interview with The Spectator, identifying parents’ refusal to grant consent as the major obstacle to achieving the vaccination target.
“One of our major challenges was the lack of consent from parents. A lot of parents did not give their consent for their wards to receive the vaccine,” she revealed.
She explained that the directorate had embarked on extensive public education and stakeholder engagements before the exercise to encourage parents to allow their daughters to receive the vaccine.
The interventions included media publicity, letters sent to schools to inform parents, engagements with parents during Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and consultations with community leaders.
Churches, mosques and media houses within the municipality were also engaged to help spread information about the vaccination exercise.
Despite the challenges, Ms Kporxah said the directorate had adequate logistics to undertake the exercise, indicating that the major difficulty was securing parental approval rather than a shortage of resources.
She said the Directorate would intensify its engagement with parents, teachers and other stakeholders ahead of the next phase to improve acceptance and coverage.
Ms Kporxah also urged parents whose daughters missed the exercise to take advantage of the opportunity to get them vaccinated at any government health facility, since the HPV vaccine had now been incorporated into Ghana’s routine immunisation programme.
She expressed optimism about the second round of the exercise, scheduled for November and December, saying the directorate would sustain its engagement with schools and parents in order to ensure that more eligible girls received the vaccine.
The HPV vaccine protects against infection with certain types of Human Papillomavirus, which cause nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Health authorities continue to encourage vaccination as a key preventive measure against the disease.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As part of activities marking Customer Service Week, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has awarded 10 Special Load Tariff (SLT) customers in the Ashanti West Region.
On October 27-29, 2026, the Management of the Ashanti West Region visited these key partners to present them with prestigious plaques and branded ECG souvenirs.
The awards celebrated their valued partnership, consistent patronage, prompt bill payments, and enduring loyalty to the ECG brand.
The 10 companies included XY Plywood Ghana, World Cool Stone Quarry, Asawus Company Limited, Kumasi Cement Ghana Limited, Niwota Company, Lancaster Kumasi City Hotel, Guinness Ghana Limited, Twellium Ghana Company Limited, Kasapreko Company Limited PLC and China Mall Kumasi.
Beyond honouring the organisations, the outreach provided regional management with a valuable platform to interact directly with these strategic stakeholders, gain firsthand insight into their operations, and address their teething operational challenges.
Addressing the awardees, Mr George Amoah, General Manager for the Ashanti West Region, expressed gratitude for their contributions to ECG’s success.
He highlighted the inscription on the commemorative plaque: “The Management and Staff of Ashanti West Region present this prestigious award to your reputable company in recognition for your valued partnership, consistent excellence and loyalty to the company. Thank you for choosing ECG.”
Reiterating the theme of the week, Ing. Amoah emphasised that going “the extra mile” was more than a mantra—it is a core work ethic instilled across all staff members in the region.
“We want to keep the lights on to ensure your business is profitable so that you can continue to employ more people to give our youth a better future,” Mr Amoah stated.
He disclosed that ECG was undertaking numerous system improvement projects across the region to stabilise power supply, increase operational capacity, and attract prospective investors.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mr Manikandan Krishnan, Head of Maintenance at Kasapreko Company Ltd PLC, expressed appreciation to ECG for the recognition and for supporting their business growth.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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