ACCRA, GHANA — When Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey made the decision to become a professional boxer as a teenager, she faced opposition from her family and community. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Quartey’s dream of becoming a boxer was seen as unusual and even discouraged. But she persisted, and last year, at the age of 27, she made history by becoming Ghana’s first female world boxing champion and the first woman to represent the country on its national team.
Quartey’s journey to success was not an easy one. In a country where boxing is predominantly seen as a sport for men, female boxers face numerous challenges and obstacles in their careers. But Quartey’s determination and hard work paid off, and her victory in November 2020 against British boxer Sangeeta Birdi in Jamestown’s main boxing area was a moment of triumph not just for her, but for all female boxers in Ghana.
Growing up in Jamestown, a neighborhood known for its fishing industry and producing many boxing stars, Quartey faced opposition from her family and community when she first started training as a boxer. “My aunts and siblings didn’t like it when I started boxing. They would come here to beg my coach not to let me become a boxer,” she shared at the Black Panthers Gym in Jamestown, where she has been training since her teenage years.
But Quartey’s passion for boxing was unwavering, and with the support of her brother, who is also a boxer, and her coach, she continued to pursue her dream. However, in 2017, she had to put her boxing career on hold and start selling lottery tickets to support her family. It was not until 2021, with the encouragement of her coach, that she returned to the ring.
One of the biggest challenges for female boxers in Ghana is the lack of support and resources. Quartey could not afford a manager and feared that she would not be able to continue her career without one. “Female boxers do not receive much support and it is difficult to keep training,” she explained. But despite these challenges, Quartey never gave up on her dream.
Her victory last year was not just a personal achievement, but a significant moment for all boxers in Ghana. The Ghanaian media hailed her win as “history,” but Quartey is quick to acknowledge that she is not the first female boxer in Ghana. “There were women in boxing before I ventured into it,” she said. However, these women were not allowed to travel outside the country to compete, which limited their opportunities for success.
Quartey’s coach, Ebenezer “Coach Killer” Adjei, who has been with her since the beginning of her boxing journey, believes that her world title is a significant achievement for not just her, but for the entire community. “It’s a big deal for her, the gym, the community, Ghana, Africa, and the world at large,” he said proudly.
Sarah Lotus Asare, a boxing coach and the project lead for the Girls Box Tournament, also emphasized the impact of Quartey’s victory on the boxing community in Ghana. “Even for the male boxers, when they fight with non-Africans, it’s very difficult for them to win because they have a lot more facilities and equipment than we do,” she explained. Quartey’s title is a testament to her hard work and determination, and it has inspired many young boxers, both male and female, to pursue their dreams.
For Quartey, her victory is not just about personal success, but also about inspiring other young women in her community to break barriers and pursue their passions. “I am a world title holder, and that confirms that what a man can do, a woman can also do,” she said confidently. Training alongside her at the gym is 18-year-old Perpetual Okaijah, who also faced opposition from her family for wanting to become a boxer. But seeing Quartey’s success has motivated her to continue pursuing her dream. “I look up to Abigail because she’s a very tough girl. She inspires me and shows me the right thing,” she shared.
Quartey’s journey to becoming a world champion is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and perseverance. Her victory has not only broken barriers for female boxers in Ghana but has also
