A BoxNation Magazine Tribute to Ambassador Emmanuel Ray Quarcoo (1936 - 2026)
A life well lived. A life deeply loved.
It is with heavy hearts that Ghana boxing mourns. Ambassador Emmanuel Ray Quarcoo, our beloved father, our very own Uncle Ray, passed away peacefully before the sun came up on the morning of 2nd October 2026. He was 90.
He was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and a much-loved patriarch. But to Ghana sports, he was something more: a builder, a banker, a believer.
The Architect
Ambassador Ray Quarcoo did not just administer boxing, he architected its modern era. As president of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF), now the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), he ushered in modern day initiatives like boxing exchange programmes among countries such as Britain, USA and Azerbaijan.
His love for boxing knew no bound, he would travel on Sunday afternoons just to watch juvenile boxing on the streets of Accra (Wato Club), a practice which became a routine, where he ‘blessed’ the young boxers during his regular visits.
He facilitated and bankrolled the establishment of many boxing clubs at Bukom, Accra, like the Black Panther and Panix gyms, among others.
The stories of boxing greats like the legendaries, Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Ebo Danquah, Nana Yaw Konadu, Thunder Ayeh, Clottey brothers (Emmanuel and Joshua), Joseph Agbeko, Isaac Dogboe, Joshua Buatsi, among others, would be incomplete without mentioning him.
The Investor Who Asked For Nothing
Long before sponsorship became fashionable, Uncle Ray spent his own money.
Among the tall list of his contribution to Ghana sports was his sponsorship for Mr Mike Carney, an international boxing coach from British Sports, UK, to assist in the preparation of the Black Bombers for the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
He received Lifetime Patron of SWAG and an Honourary Award from the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) for supporting Ghana’s participation in the 1992 Olympic Games.
As an executive member of the prestigious International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly AIBA, and a dedicated management member of the Black Stars, his influence was evident across the African continent.
The Legacy Lives On
Ask Dr. Ofori Asare, the man who coached Samuel Takyi to Africa’s sole boxing medal at Tokyo 2020, who the foundation belongs to.
“Ambassador Ray Quarcoo did very well... he gave me that fame, because, I think he had a little bit of confidence in me, giving me that opportunity,” Asare recalled. Quarcoo enrolled Asare and Vincent Akai Nettey for IBA-accredited courses, culminating in their attainment of the sole 3-Star and 2-Star IBA licences, respectively.
“They’d never had the exposure of going outside, but during Ray Quarcoo’s time, all boxers were given a chance to improve and prove themselves.”
He took the junior national team of 12 boxers, between the ages of 14 and 16, including Wahid Omar, Azumah Mohammed, Musah Rahman Lawson, Sulemana Tetteh and Gibrine Ahmed to the world championship. He took the Black Bombers to the senior world championship in Italy, and boxers to Chicago for the Beijing 2008 Olympic qualifier. On the road to London 2012, he connected the team to the IBA elite training camp in Wales.
“So, I can say he and Eddy DuPlan created the base, from which we’re getting all these benefits,” Asare concluded.
Even in his final years, at 90, he remained concerned about the sector’s downward trajectory, appealing to sports administrators to work harder to rescue Ghana sports. He pledged as recently as the Freedom Fight Night at the Bukom Boxing Arena to lend a helping hand to restore Ghana’s dwindling boxing fortunes.
Farewell, Uncle Ray
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana, where he served as long-serving Patron, has expressed grief following his passing, paying tribute to the veteran sports administrator for his long-standing association and contribution to Ghanaian sports.
We thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and support at this difficult time, the family wrote. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Funeral and final rites will be announced by the family in due course.
Goodnight, Ambassador. Goodnight, Uncle Ray. Ghana boxing stands on your shoulders.
