The 2017 Ghana Open Taekwondo Championship has been launched at brief a ceremony held at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

In attendance at the event was the President of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF), Mr. Federick Oto Lartey, Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA).

Robert Sarfo and the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr Ben Nunno Mensah.

The President of the GTF, Mr. Federick Oto Lartey in his opening highlighted the difficulties in the bidding process but was elated being awarded the nod to host the international.


He said: “It was not easy bidding for the tournament after all the challenges encountered but we happy to have won the nod.Ghana Open Taekwondo Championship is a world championship and ranking championship so every athlete that participate will earn point. We saw this as an opportunity to as to improve our athlete and enable them compete on the international stage.”

He added: Taekwondo has not got to the level we expected because we lack a lot of things. So we though organising this tournament will help us improve the facilities to make the sport grow.”

The President of GOC, Ben Nunno Mensah, his remarks at the event congratulated the GWF for their efforts in bring the international competitions to Ghana and further reiterated the need for unity across all local bodies with the federations.


“I must congratulates the taekwondo family for their effort in winning this tournament and keeping the sport of taekwondo alive. I know there are other groups of Taekwondo federations who claim there are they are the rightful association but the GOC and IOC recognises only one body thus GWF, so I entreat you to solve you differences.”

Director General of the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo, in his address highlighted the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for this competition and the further entreated the media to support the competition for it to become a success.”

“We fully support the hosting of this tournament and we assure the taekwondo family of supporting before and after the tournament. We congratulates the GWF of going through the tedious process of bidding for the tournament.This hosting will certainly put Ghana on the international stage with both the local and international media following proceedings in the competition.

Twelve (12) countries which includes the USA, Italy, Malawi, Turkey, Rwanda, Togo, Benin, Morocco, Ghana,Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast have so registered for the Championship slated for the 18-19 August 2017.