President of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF), Frederick Lartey Otu, has outlined an ambitious nationwide regional awareness programme aimed at strengthening grassroots development, engaging stakeholders, and identifying the unique needs of taekwondo across the country as he seeks re-election.
The initiative, which is expected to run from July through December, will see the Federation’s leadership visit regional associations to engage directly with key stakeholders and lay the foundation for sustainable growth of the sport.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Otu said the awareness campaign is not merely about promoting taekwondo but about listening to communities and understanding their priorities before implementing development projects.
According to him, the programme has already commenced, with the Volta Region hosting the first awareness engagement, while activities also took place in the Upper East Region during a taekwondo championship.
We have already started in the Volta Region, and there was also a championship in the Upper East Region last weekend. The awareness campaign will continue across all regions because we cannot sit in Accra and assume what every region needs. We must engage them first,” he explained.
Mr. Otu stressed that every region has different developmental priorities, noting that some may require athlete development while others may benefit more from coach education or technical capacity building.
It is not always about starting with athletes. Some regions may first need to develop coaches who can identify and nurture talent. The awareness engagements will help us determine where to begin in each region,” he said.
The GTF President revealed that the regional outreach will involve Executive Board members and will bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Education Service (GES), Regional Coordinating Councils, private school associations, opinion leaders, security agencies, and local government officials.
Reflecting on the successful engagement in the Volta Region, Mr. Otu said discussions with the Regional Minister, education authorities, school heads, and other stakeholders have already provided valuable direction for future development initiatives.
We invited the Regional Minister, GES officials, private schools, the Customs Regional Commander, the Police Regional Commander, school headmasters, and many other stakeholders. By listening to them, we understand their priorities, and that is what will guide our interventions,” he noted.
He added that the collaborative approach is expected to strengthen partnerships that will contribute significantly to the growth of taekwondo at the grassroots level.
Beyond technical development, Mr. Otu believes the awareness campaign will also create opportunities for attracting corporate sponsorship and institutional support.
When stakeholders become actively involved and witness the impact of the programme, it creates opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships that will help develop the sport in the regions,” he stated.
Mr. Otu’s development agenda aligns with his extensive administrative and technical experience in both Ghanaian and international taekwondo.
Looking at his credentials, he has served as President of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation since 2013, Second Vice President of the Ghana Olympic Committee since 2021, a Council Member of the African Taekwondo Union, a Council Member of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union, and a Member of the World Taekwondo Development Committee. Technically, he is a World Taekwondo Technical Delegate, an International Referee, and holds a 7th Dan Black Belt awarded by Kukkiwon.
As he campaigns for another term, Mr. Otu vision remains focused on expanding taekwondo beyond the major cities by building strong regional structures, empowering coaches, engaging schools and local authorities, and ensuring that every region receives development initiatives tailored to its specific needs.