When Abigail Quartey stepped into Jamestown's Black Panthers Gym as a teenager, her family pleaded with her coach to stop her boxing ambitions. Today, the 27-year-old stands as Ghana's first female world boxing champion, rewriting societal expectations for women in sports.
Quartey’s journey began in Accra’s working-class Jamestown neighborhood, where boxing is revered but traditionally male-dominated. 'My aunts argued boxing wasn’t for women,' she recalls. Undeterred, she balanced selling rice and lottery tickets with grueling training sessions, often lacking equipment and financial support.
'What a man can do, a woman can also do – this title proves it,' Quartey declared after defeating Britain’s Sangeeta Birdi for the WIBF World Super Bantamweight crown.
Her 2023 victory sparked unprecedented celebrations in Jamestown, temporarily silencing critics who dismissed women’s boxing. Behind the triumph lies a stark reality:
- No managerial support
- Inadequate training facilities
- Cultural stigma against female athletes
Coach Ebenezer Adjei, who coaxed Quartey back into the ring after a four-year hiatus, emphasizes the systemic challenges: 'Non-African boxers have better resources. Her win elevates Ghana’s entire sports community.'
Sarah Lotus Asare of Ghana’s Girls Box Tournament notes Quartey’s impact extends beyond the ring: 'She’s creating paths for girls who see sports as career options, not just men’s territory.' Eighteen-year-old trainee Perpetual Okaijah embodies this shift, training daily despite family objections.
While media hail Quartey as a trailblazer, she stresses continuity: 'I’m not Ghana’s first female boxer – just the first allowed to compete globally.' Her story underscores the persistent barriers facing African women athletes while charting a bold new course for gender equality in sports.
