The Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) closed a two-day leadership retreat on Saturday with a strong charge to members: recommit to advancing the sport both locally and internationally.
Held from April 10 to 11 at the Plus 33 Hotel in Sakumono, Greater Accra Region, the retreat brought together key stakeholders, including National Sports Authority (NSA) Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President, Richard Akpokavie. GTF President Frederick Lartey Otu led the federation’s Executive Board, joined by chairpersons and representatives from regional associations.
Designed to build capacity and alignment, the retreat focused on three goals: helping members understand the NSA’s role and how federations can meet its standards, clarifying how sports bodies fit into the GOC’s four-year development plan, and strengthening leadership while fostering collaboration.
GOC President Akpokavie praised the GTF for creating space to review the sport’s progress and future. He challenged attendees to put athletes first. “If there are no taekwondo players, what would you be doing?” he asked. He urged the federation to uphold the Olympic values of excellence and respect, and reaffirmed the GOC’s support for GTF initiatives.
Opening the retreat, Lartey Otu thanked members for their strong turnout, calling it proof of their dedication to taekwondo’s growth. He highlighted 2025 as a pivotal year for the GTF, pointing to a prestigious scholarship awarded to rising female athlete Henrietta Ayeley Amarh as evidence of progress.
Looking to 2026, which he called an “ambitious year,” Lartey Otu said the federation is ready to push forward with purpose. Planned activities include a National Coach Licence Course, a World Taekwondo International Coach Licence Course, a National Referee Course, plus major national and international tournaments aimed at showcasing Ghana’s top talent and raising the sport’s profile.
To bolster governance, the GTF will hold executive board elections at its 2026 congress to usher in new leadership for the next phase of development. Lartey Otu appealed for unity and fairness throughout the process, reminding members that “the ultimate goal is not personal ambition, but the growth of taekwondo in Ghana.”
