Patrick Quarcoo

Patrick Quarcoo (born 23 May 1957),^[2] commonly known as PQ, is a Ghanaian-born, Kenya-based entrepreneur and media executive. He co-founded and served as CEO of the Radio Africa Group, an East African media conglomerate operating radio, television, print, and digital platforms in Kenya and Uganda.^[3] Quarcoo received the International Recognition Award at the 2012 Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards.^[4]

Quarcoo was born in Cape Coast, Ghana, into a family that valued education and print media—his grandmother told him, “Book no lies,” inspiring his lifelong passion for journalism.^[1] He earned a Bachelor of Science in Administration from the University of Ghana (1977–1980).^[1] He completed an MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School (1984–1986), specializing in International Marketing and Corporate Strategy.^[1] In 2017, he attended Harvard University’s Senior Executive Program.

After university, Quarcoo joined Reuters in Uganda, where he worked as a reporter throughout the 1990s.^[5] In 2000, he relocated to Nairobi to launch his own media venture with British journalist William Pike.^[6]

In 2000, Quarcoo and William Pike co-founded the Radio Africa Group, headquartered in Westlands, Nairobi. Their flagship station, Kiss 100 FM, quickly became the top youth-oriented radio channel in Nairobi.^[7] Over the next decade, the group launched a series of other stations^[8] and a newspaper, The Star (Kenya).^[9] In 2014, the group entered television with Bamba TV, its free-to-air digital channel.^[10] Radio Africa also expanded regionally, co-owning Capital FM and Beat FM in Uganda.^[11]

After 24 years at the helm, Quarcoo stepped down as CEO in June 2024 to pursue personal interests, remaining on the board as a major shareholder.^[12] Under his leadership, Radio Africa Group launched six radio stations, one newspaper, a television channel, and multiple digital platforms, solidifying its role as an East African media powerhouse.^[12]

Quarcoo was married to Gifty Quarcoo, who died from cancer in April 2020; the couple had three children.^[1]

• Media of Kenya
• Radio Africa Group
• List of radio stations in Kenya