The Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) has initiated a five-region awareness campaign aimed at promoting Taekwondo among schoolchildren. The campaign, launched in Kumasi, targets the Ashanti, Northern, Upper West, Bono, and Central regions. About 500 pupils from 10 private schools participated in the launch, which featured demonstrations of Taekwondo techniques, including Poomsae and self-defence skills. The campaign's theme, “Promoting Taekwondo Awareness, Discipline, Fitness and Youth Development,” reflects the Federation's goals of increasing participation and promoting the sport's benefits.
GTF President Frederick Lartey Otu stated that the Federation wants to broaden Taekwondo's role beyond competitive sport. He emphasized that the future of Taekwondo in Ghana lies not only in producing champions but also in developing disciplined, responsible, and confident young people. The programme aims to introduce Taekwondo to more schools and communities, creating opportunities for young athletes to progress from school and community programmes to regional and national competitions.
The Executive Director of the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, called for a change in the way sports are treated in the education system. He argued that sports should be regarded as an essential part of child development, teaching discipline, focus, respect, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. Gyetuah urged schools and parents to give sports the necessary time and resources, enabling children to participate meaningfully.
Obenfo Gyetuah highlighted Taekwondo's potential to support both physical and character development, requiring discipline, focus, and self-control. He encouraged a shift in priorities, suggesting that when sports become a main curriculum for transformation, children will be raised who are not only academically sound but also physically strong, emotionally balanced, and morally grounded.
The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Nana Gyaama Dakwa, pledged the Authority's support for the campaign, encouraging more schools to participate. She noted that Taekwondo can help children develop physical fitness and mental alertness while equipping them with self-defence skills, particularly important for young women.
The launch event featured presentations of uniforms and equipment to the Ashanti Regional Taekwondo Association by the GTF National Executive Board. The event was attended by school proprietors, teachers, parents, coaches, Taekwondo officials, and representatives of the NSA and GNACOPS. The GTF has intensified efforts to take Taekwondo to schools and communities, aiming to widen its talent base and produce athletes capable of competing at regional, continental, and international levels.
The five-region campaign is expected to build on the GTF's push to expose pupils to Taekwondo early and encourage schools to incorporate it into their extracurricular activities. Federation officials consider the involvement of private schools critical due to their large pupil populations and existing sports infrastructure. Taekwondo, a Korean martial art and Olympic sport, has been practised in Ghana for decades but remains less popular than football, boxing, and athletics.
Key points
- The Ghana Taekwondo Federation aims to increase participation in Taekwondo and promote its benefits, including discipline, physical fitness, self-defence, and confidence.
- The campaign will cover five regions, including Ashanti, Northern, Upper West, Bono, and Central, targeting schoolchildren and promoting Taekwondo awareness.
- The initiative involves collaboration among schools, parents, teachers, coaches, sports authorities, and Taekwondo associations to ensure its success.
