The Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) has held the second programme in its school Taekwondo awareness campaign, bringing together 200 schoolchildren from six schools at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in the Central Region.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), forms part of the federation’s efforts to introduce more children to Taekwondo and promote the sport as a tool for discipline, physical fitness, self-defence and youth development.
The school awareness campaign aims to introduce Taekwondo to children across Ghana, promote confidence and character development, identify young talent and create opportunities for participants to progress into regional, national and international competitions.
Through collaboration with educational institutions, school authorities, coaches and other stakeholders, the federation hopes to expand grassroots participation and make the sport more accessible to young people.
The Cape Coast event follows the first programme in Kumasi and reflects the federation’s commitment to expanding access to Taekwondo in schools and communities across the country.
The campaign, which was launched in Kumasi under the theme “Promoting Taekwondo Awareness, Discipline, Fitness and Youth Development,” will cover the Ashanti, Northern, Upper West, Bono and Central regions. The launch in Kumasi drew about 500 schoolchildren from 10 private schools.
Taekwondo gained official recognition as a sport in Ghana in 1978, and the GTF affiliated itself with World Taekwondo (WT) in 1981, establishing a vital link to the international Taekwondo community.
The federation, which is a member of the Ghana Olympic Committee, was originally called the Ghana Taekwondo Association. It organised the 2017 World Taekwondo Open Championship.
Speaking on behalf of GTF President Frederick Lartey Otu, Board Member and Acting Treasurer Hannah Akua Humphrey said the federation was committed to making Taekwondo accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs across every region of Ghana.
She said the sport offered benefits beyond physical training, helping young people develop confidence, respect, perseverance and self-control.
“At the Ghana Taekwondo Federation, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to discover their talent and benefit from the physical, mental, and social development of sports,” she said.
Ms Humphrey called on educational bodies, school administrators, parents, local authorities and other stakeholders to support the introduction and growth of Taekwondo in schools and communities.
She also urged coaches to recognise their role in shaping character and developing future leaders through their work with young athletes.
