Coach Kwatelai Quartey appeals to government to save amateur boxing for better professional boxers
Veteran boxing trainer Kwatelai Quartey has been honoured with a Special Award in recognition of his decades-long contribution to Bukom and Ghana boxing.
No account of Ghana’s boxing history is complete without mention of Quartey, affectionately known as “Wutor”, the long-serving head coach of the Bukom Boxing Club. A towering figure in the sport, his influence spans generations and has shaped the very identity of Bukom as Ghana’s boxing heartbeat.
In 1976, Quartey played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of the Bukom Boxing Club with the support of Hon. Amarkai Amarteifio, then Secretary for Youth and Sports. The gym, which dates back to the 1950s under the management of Nii Nai Sackeyfio, has produced some of Ghana’s finest fighters, including the country’s first Olympic medallist Clement Ike Quartey Snr. and the celebrated Floyd Quartey.
Despite its rich history, the gym continues to face challenges. The current generation of boxers still requires improved facilities, equipment and even roofing to allow training during rainy conditions.
Quartey is the elder brother of Ike “Bazooka” Quartey and, together with the late Alfred “Cobra” Kotey, was among the early pioneers who trained at the club from a very young age. Widely regarded as a naturally gifted trainer, Quartey is credited with nurturing some of Ghana’s most accomplished fighters, including Ike Quartey, Alfred Kotey, Joshua Clottey, Emmanuel Clottey, Steve Dotse, James “Bukom Fire” Armah and Abraham Osei Bonsu, guiding them onto the international stage.
One of his most notable achievements came in 1988, when he helped several of his protégés earn places in the Black Bombers squad for the Seoul Olympic Games, before supporting their transition into the professional ranks. Under his guidance, Alfred Kotey went on to become WBO Bantamweight Champion in 1994. While others may be credited as head coaches for some fighters, Quartey laid the foundation for many of their careers and continues to train young and juvenile boxers to this day.
A long list of Bukom’s finest also passed through his hands, including Bukom Banku (Braimah Kamoko), Joshua Okine, Jah Lartey Lartey, Alfred “The Stinging Bee” Tetteh, Malik Jabir (Bukom Onufu), Michael Pappoe and many others.
Though advancing in age, Quartey remains passionate about teaching. Equipment shortages are no barrier to him. “I can even use a football to train boxers how to punch,” he said in an exclusive interview. For him, discipline is non-negotiable, insisting there is no excuse for skipping training. “The gym is a boxer’s classroom,” he often reminds his trainees, “that’s where you learn about life.”
Beyond producing fighters, Quartey has mentored several young trainers, further extending his legacy. His recognition at the 2025 Boxing Ghana Awards has therefore been widely welcomed as both fitting and overdue.
Known as “The Father of Bukom Boxers,” Quartey has expressed concern about the current state of Ghana boxing, noting the absence of leading contenders in world rankings. He has urged government investment in amateur boxing, particularly through international training tours in Eastern Europe and Asia. According to him, Ghana is rich in raw talent, but success depends on proper management, exposure and opportunity.
The boxing fraternity and BoxingGhana have congratulated Coach Quartey for his unwavering dedication to the sport and his lifelong service to the youth of Bukom. He will receive a Special Award at this year’s Boxing Ghana Awards, scheduled for January 3 at the Idrowhyt Events Centre, Dansoman.