Joe Lartey passes away at 96

Veteran Ghanaian football commentator and sports journalist Joe Lartey has passed away, as confirmed by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG).

He died on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the age of 96.

Born on June 6, 1927, in Accra, Joe Lartey attended Accra Academy. Popularly known as “Over to You,” Lartey was an iconic broadcaster and served as the first president of SWAG.

Lartey began his journey in journalism at the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) in 1961 as a football commentator.

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Over the years, he became a beloved figure in the Ghanaian sports community.

He later joined Radio Nigeria for a decade before returning to GBC in 1990. During his tenure, he hosted programs such as Sports Digest on GTV.

In recognition of his contributions to sports journalism, Lartey was honoured with the prestigious “A Life in Sport” award by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) at the AIPS Sport Media Awards ceremony held in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022.

Lartey’s influence extended far beyond Ghana, as many Ghanaian football commentators credit him for shaping their careers.

His legacy as a pioneer in sports broadcasting will be remembered fondly by fans and colleagues alike.