A Customs Officer of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and president of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF), Mr Frederick Lartey Otu, continues to make waves on the sporting scene with his competence and leadership style.
Last week, he chalked two major feats that would go a long way to project him as an administrative force in Africa, the Commonwealth and world taekwondo as well as a sports icon back home.
On Thursday, April 24, Mr Otu was re-elected as a Council Member of the African Taekwondo Union (AFTU) at its General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Chief Revenue Officer had 31 votes, representing 91.18 per cent of the votes cast to join five other members on the Council.
They were Rafael Eneme Enga Obono from Equatorial Guinea, Henri Randariamandrato from Madagascar, Benallaoua Yazid from Algeria, Fardouza Moussa Eguah from Djibouti and Benson Mutongi Zwizwai from Zimbabwe.
It was his third term on the council, having served previous terms from 2017-2021, 2021-2025 and now 2025-2029.
Mr Ide Issaka from Niger was victorious with the AFTU presidency and would work with three vice presidents including Dr Jonathan Nnaji from Nigeria, Mr El Gairaa Mohamed Mouloud from Morocco and Mr Dawit Asfaw from Ethiopia.
Dr Alioune Badara Traore from Mali was elected as the Auditor with Senegalese official, Mr Balla Dieye, re-appointed as Secretary General of AfTU.
Exactly two days later in his native Ghana, Mr Otu got elected unopposed to the high office of Second Vice President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) at its Elective Congress held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The GTF president had previously served as a Treasurer on the GOC board, a period he believed he served well to the best of his ability.
In an exclusive interview with The Times Sports, Mr Lartey Otu gave an insight into his career as a sports administrator with the GTF and spiraling to the high roles of the GOC board and continental taekwondo bodies.
According to him, the latest wins were a result of hard work, commitment and dedication to his work and was full of gratitude to his employers – the GRA, for the support he has enjoyed.
Before retaining the Council Member position on the AFTU board, Mr Otu served in various capacities and was able to impact the lives of the people he came across and worked with.
He served as the Chairman of the Development Committee of AFTU which has 53 countries affiliated to it during his second term as Council member.
At the level of World Taekwondo, the GTF president’s name rings a bell on the corridors of power.
He is a World Taekwondo 1st class International Referee and a certified Technical Delegate.
He has officiated several tournaments since he became an International Technical Official in 1999 after attending and passing the 39th International Taekwondo Referee Seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Again, Mr Lartey Otu was elected Council Member of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union (CTU) at the 2024 General Assembly of the CTU in Chuncheon, Republic of Korea on October 1, 2024.
On the local scene, he has paid his dues and continues to work in various capacities in the development and promotion of Ghana sports.
In 2017, he joined the GOC board as a Treasurer, following a successful election at the General Assembly of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
After a fruitful first tenure, he was re-elected but to a new position of 2nd Vice President in 2021.
He served as the Technical Director for the Ghana Taekwondo Federation for seven years and rose to serve a second term as the President.
In this position, he has worked zealously to make taekwondo a sport of choice for the Ghanaian youth due to its values and principles of discipline and self defence.
The reticent gentleman has consistently attributed his success in the sports industry to humility, discipline and hard work.
He is the highest ranked Ghanaian Taekwondo black belt holder in Ghana, boasting of titles as Grandmaster and a holder of a 7th Dan Taekwondo black belt. He is also a proud member of the World Taekwondo Development Committee.
Below are excerpts of the interview with the Ghana Taekwondo Federation and GOC 2nd Vice President.
Times Sports (TS): Congratulations Mr Frederick Lartey Otu, two victories in two major elections within a week, how did you manage this?
Frederick Lartey Otu: This is amazing, I give thanks to God for this. I believe this is a reward for the years of hard work. It has not been easy performing in these diverse roles but I believe that when you show commitment, delegates would know and that is what exactly happened. I thank the delegates at the GOC and AFTU as well.
TS: Having served the GOC in different capacities, what new thing do you bring to the table in this new role as 2nd Vice President?
Lartey Otu: With my years of experience on the GOC board, I’ve gained a deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities within our sports ecosystem. In this new role, I bring a renewed focus on strategic collaboration, athlete-centred policies, and stronger ties between federations. My aim is to push for more impactful programmes that would not only benefit elite athletes but also grassroots development across all sports.
TS: In your previous GOC election, you won handsomely by getting the highest vote. This time, you went unopposed. What do you think is making you enjoy that goodwill from members?
Lartey Otu: I believe it stems from consistency, transparency, and a clear commitment to progress. People respond to leaders who listen, deliver on promises, and prioritise the collective good. I’ve always made it a point to remain accessible and results-driven, and that trust seems to have translated into continued support.
TS: Three days before today, you also retained your seat as a Council Member of the Africa Taekwondo Union at its General Assembly in Ethiopia. How does that make you feel?
Lartey Otu: It’s a huge honour and responsibility. Being retained shows that the work we’ve been doing is being recognised and appreciated. It motivates me to continue advocating West African representation, development funding, and opportunities for young athletes, coaches, referees and administrators. I’m deeply committed to raising the profile of Taekwondo not only in Ghana but across the continent of Africa.
TS: What impact should Ghanaians expect to see or have on the development and promotion of Taekwondo in Ghana?
Lartey Otu: We’re entering a new phase of growth. Ghanaians should expect to see greater visibility of taekwondo through community outreach, increased participation among youth, especially girls, and improved competitive standards. We’ll also be focusing on coach development, referee training, and international exposure for our athletes.
TS: In your new role on the GOC board, how hard are you going to push issues about taekwondo?
Lartey Otu: Very hard—but always within the broader interest of sports development. While I represent taekwondo, I understand the importance of collaboration. That said, I’ll continue to ensure that taekwondo gets its fair share of support, visibility, and resources. The sport has tremendous potential, and it’s time to tap into that fully.
TS: The new GOC president has been vocal about initiatives like women empowerment, giving athletes a voice at Congress and on the executive, as well as the introduction of an ADR system in sports. Do you support all of these?
Lartey Otu: Absolutely. These are timely and necessary reforms. Women empowerment and athlete inclusion are no longer optional— they’re essential to the progress of any sport. I also strongly support the introduction of an Alternative Dispute Resolution system. It promotes fairness, professionalism, and a healthier sports environment.
TS: Mr Lartey Otu, how long have you been practicing taekwondo as an athlete and an administrator?
Lartey Otu: I hold a 7th Dan Taekwondo black belt. In all, I have been in taekwondo for over 40 years and with the help of God, I hope to stay longer to support it development even in other capacities.
TS: Thank you sir for your time.
Lartey Otu: You’re welcome my brother.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
