The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has unveiled a portrait to honour and celebrate one of its own for his immense contribution to the corporation and the country at large.
Joe Lartey. Photo: courtesy Paul Nyamador/GBC.
Born as Joachim Awuley Lartey, otherwise known as “Over To You Joe Lartey”, the renowned Ghanaian football commentator and journalist, who worked with the Corporation was phenomenal to the development of sports in the country. With his iconic voice and descriptive tone of events, sports journalism was redefined through his high level of professionalism.
The legendary and celebrated journalist was the first president of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG).
Joachim Awuley Lartey, famously known as ‘Over To You Joe Lartey’, joined the GBC in 1961 following a recommendation from an old schoolmate from the Accra Academy.
The artist, Ambassador Prince Hilton, explaining the artwork. Looking on from Left, GBC DG, Professor Amin Alhassan, George Lomotey, Acting Director, Television/Marketing. Host Kafui Dey (R) of Artist.
At GBC he moved from the Talks and Features division to the Sports division. He later wrote scripts on sports fused with politics. With a career spanning many decades, Mr. Lartey was the Chief Commentator when Ghana first hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1963 and was also Commentator at subsequent AFCON tournaments and other competitions across the world.
For many years, he was the most recognisable voice in Ghana football’s First Division (later Premier League) until he retired. His aide Evans Adu-Gyamfi shares some of the things probably not known by many about the man Joe Lartey.
“What a lot of people do not know is that Mr. Joe Lartey before coming to GBC was a teacher. But prior to teaching he had been to the navy. He joined the British navy while he was a student at Accra Academy. And by the influence of the speeches of Winston Churchill left school, went to Takoradi, enlisted in the British navy and fought in World War Two. When he returned, they had to demobilize as veterans but the government at the time gave them options to choose what to carry on as careers. He decided to teach because while at sea, he had learnt a great deal about public speaking and he felt he had enough knowledge to be able to impact knowledge in the classroom.
“His first grandson who has taken after him is also doing great in the United States as a Journalist. That is the wife Mrs. Emily Lartey to whom they have been married for a little over 72 years.”
Famously known as “Over to “You, Joe Lartey” during his illustrious years with the corporation, the GBC recognised Mr. Lartey for his exploits.
For Sports Commentator and host of GBC Sports Highlights, Kwabena Yeboah, Mr. Lartey exuded so much energy in his craft. He made history in the fraternity, and it was a rare honour to be associated with him.
“Everybody in Ghana who loves sports knew Joe Lartey and every single weekend we lived up to Joe Lartey. The kind of energy he had those days and the kind of vigour, he was absolutely incredible. He is telling you, Poloo inside the centre circle, outside the centre circle, around the centre circle and you are picturing exactly what Poloo is doing. This is a man who has inspired generations upon generations and we are very privileged to be associated with a true legend like Joe Lartey”.
Mr.Lartey has impacted many lives, one of such is Prince Joe Lartey who is his mentee. He had this to say about him.
“Way back in Accra Academy, his alma mater which I also attended, he was in charge of the debater’s club in 97 and I happen to be there. That’s the first experience I had with him in public speaking. He was mentoring us for the Goil debating time that was hosted by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and that is how the relationship, the romance started. His tentacles spread everywhere both the old generation and the new generation. You never know what’s going to happen as far as his influence in the media landscape as far as sports and history is concerned”.
The Artist Kojo Hilton disclosed the monumental piece will be housed at the GBC for public viewing. He gave meaning to his creativity which he said took him about five months to complete.
“If you look into this picture, you’re not just seeing a picture, you’re seeing him,you’re seeing his works, you see where he started from. I picked up the GBC symbol here to let people know who is and what he stands for in Ghana and the world. There is a microphone that also tells his journey too as well. So he is on air, he is always on air and he will always be on air”.
Mr. Lartey was at a point emotional about the recognition. He said the honour rekindled some fond memories.
“When I came here my face was cleaned, smiling face, two young ladies moved me to tears and I’m still recovering. The stories they told in the poem as if they knew me before. The way I heard it again, my mind went straight back to those days”
Even a day after Mr. Lartey was still overwhelmed with the love shown to him by the GBC.
“I felt as if it was my last day on earth and I was receiving my final honours on this planet. It was so impressive because everybody there surprised me. At a point I asked them where did you get the money to do all that? And they said they did that just to honour me. The impression I have is very deep. Very very profound and I thank all of you”
Life at GBC
Born in Accra on 6 June 1927, he started his education at the Accra Royal School before relocating to Tamale with his parents. In 1938, he returned to Accra and was enrolled in Government Senior Boys School in Kinbu. After completing his middle school education in 1943, he got admission to Accra Academy in 1944.
In 1961, he joined the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.He excelled as a football commentator and brewed a partnership and friendship with Festus Addae who made the phrase ‘Over To You Joe Lartey’ popular. Unfortunately, as a result of some difficulties, he left GBC in 1973.
He joined the Food Distribution Corporation the same year but left in 1978 to go into private practice. Mr. Lartey was also involved in trade unionism while at GBC and for six years was divisional secretary of the Public Service Workers Union.
He was involved in the activities of the People’s Movement for Freedom and Justice that opposed UNIGOV under Gen Kutu Acheampong. It was when the leaders of the movement were being pursued that he left for Lagos where he stayed for 12 years.
On his return to Ghana in 1990, he hosted programmes such as Sports Digest and Hall of Fame on GTV while teaching in public speaking.
As it said a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for, and it’s the hope this recognition will inspire others to do more for the country. Over to You Joe Lartey.
