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GTF Pres Lartey Otu joins WT Dev’t C’ttee

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World Taekwondo has appointed Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) President, Mr. Frederick Lartey Otu a member of its Development Committee.

World Taekwondo is the governing body of taekwondo globally with 213 nations affiliated to it.

Mr Otu, a Senior Customs Officer of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), therefore, becomes the only Ghanaian taekwondo official to have attained this feat in Ghana.

He emerged one of the favourite candidates appointed to the board after a stringent review and assessment of over 480 other candidates.

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Dr. Chungwon Choue, President of World Taekwondo in an appointment letter he signed commended Mr Otu whose contribution and dedication to the sport made him a favourite among the nominations.

“The aim of World Taekwondo over the coming years is to strengthen our status as an Olympic and Paralympic sport including the virtual environment, be recognised for our impeccable governance and sustainability, and continue our devotion to helping refugees and displaced persons through Taekwondo.”

“I believe that you will be a valuable asset to World Taekwondo and devote yourself to the cause,” the letter said.
Mr Otu became a certified International Taekwondo Referee after passing the prescribed test and has since rose through the ranks to become a 1st Class International Referee.

He attended the 39th International Taekwondo Referee Seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999 and participated in the 11th Foreigner’s Taekwondo Instructor Training Course organised by the World Taekwondo Academy, Kukkiwon in South Korea In 2005, to become a certified Taekwondo Instructor.

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Following that was his election as a Council Member of the African Taekwondo Union in 2017 in Muju, South Korea and was re-elected in 2021.

That same year, the GTF President was appointed Chairman of the Development Committee of the African Taekwondo Union (AFTU) by the President of the African Taekwondo Union, Mr. Ide Issaka.

Mr Otu, who doubles as the 2nd Vice President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) was also appointed a member of the World Taekwondo Commonwealth Management Board on May 16, 2022 by Dr. Chungwon Choue.

He also received a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedicated service and outstanding contribution for the development of taekwondo at the 40th anniversary celebration of World Taekwondo on May 28, 2013.

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Until his latest appointment, Mr Otu was a World Taekwondo Technical Delegate.

Among his responsibilities as Technical Delegate include checking the overall preparations made by an Organising Committee before a competition and ensure everything has been arranged in strict conformity with the WT competition rules; decide method for drawing of lots and the ration of random weigh-in and to approve the results of draw and weigh-in.

BY SPECTATOR SPORTS REPORTER

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Egypt to host inaugural Alamein Africa Forum in new Coastal Smart City

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Egypt will host Africa’s new flagship business summit this October, as leaders from across the continent converge in the newly built smart city of New Alamein for the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum.

The forum is scheduled for October 2-4, 2026 in New Alamein, Egypt’s fourth-generation coastal megacity.

The city combines advanced infrastructure, modern residential districts, international universities, cultural landmarks, and major tourism and investment projects under one master plan.

Dubbed “the continent’s premier gathering where political power meets entrepreneurial prowess,” the forum is expected to bring together over 20 African Heads of State and Government, senior leaders from leading international and regional financial institutions, and key players driving transformation across Africa’s most critical sectors.

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Co-organised by the Government of Egypt, African Export-Import Bank, and AUDA-NEPAD, the Alamein Africa Forum is designed as a permanent biennial platform to advance strategic partnerships and unlock investment across Africa and global markets.[Afreximbank]

The agenda will focus on sectors defining Africa’s future: infrastructure, energy, digital transformation, manufacturing, critical minerals, health markets, and intra-African trade*.

The programme will feature high-level plenary sessions, sector-focused panels, closed-door roundtables, and structured B2B and B2G meetings aimed at facilitating concrete deals and long-term partnerships.

Special sessions will also highlight Egypt’s role as a regional hub and gateway to African markets.

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The inaugural forum will be held in parallel with the 2026 African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting and the 33rd Annual Meetings of Afreximbank.

Organizers say the forum will serve as a launchpad to translate the African Union’s 50-year strategic master plan, Agenda 2063, into concrete projects, policies and partnerships that will define Africa’s economic trajectory for the next decade.

“In an era of shifting alliances and rising volatility, Africa can no longer afford to be a bystander in decisions that shape its own economic future,” organizers stated.

The forum aims to place the private-sector agenda at the heart of AU decision-making, lower investment risk, unlock capital, and build cross-border partnerships to strengthen Africa’s resilience to external shocks.

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Located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, New Alamein represents Egypt’s vision for smart, sustainable urban development. Hosting the forum there is expected to showcase the city as both a symbol of African modernization and a hub for investment and innovation.

By bringing public and private sector leadership into one alliance, the Alamein Africa Forum is positioned to become Africa’s go-to space for turning commitments into implementation.

By Chris KONEY, for Egyptian Embassy, ACCRA.

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Gomashie urges Bono Region to leverage culture and tourism for growth

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Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on stakeholders in the Bono Region to raise the bar on professionalism and patriotism if the region is to unlock its full tourism potential.

Speaking during a familiarisation tour of the region, the Minister met with staff of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCs).

The engagement focused on how to position Bono as a leading cultural and tourism destination in Ghana.

Gomashie challenged public institutions to take a cue from the private sector by improving service delivery and embracing efficiency.

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“Our institutions must be intentional about the way we serve the public,” she said, adding that “We need stronger collaboration and public-private partnerships to attract the right investment and build the tourism infrastructure that will make Bono competitive.”

The Minister urged MMDCs to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry and its agencies to identify, develop and promote key tourist attractions in their districts.

She also stressed the importance of preserving cultural heritage while creating an enabling environment for investors in tourism, culture and the creative arts.

The Minister added that “Tourism is not just about beautiful sites. It is about stories, about our heritage, and about the opportunities we create for our people.”

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“This work we do today is not for ourselves alone. It is for Ghana and for generations yet unborn,” she noted.

Dzifa Gomashie further called on all stakeholders to build on the foundation inherited from previous leaders and leave behind a stronger, more vibrant sector.

The tour forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to decentralize tourism development and ensure every region benefits from Ghana’s growing creative economy.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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