Veteran commentator Joe Lartey Sr dies at 96

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has announced the demise of its patron, Joe Lartey Snr.

The veteran commentator, affectionately known as “Over to You,” died on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Born on June 6, 1927, in Accra, Lartey attended Accra Academy and began his journalism career at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1961 as a football commentator.

Throughout his illustrious career, Lartey became a beloved figure in Ghanaian sports, serving as the first president of SWAG. He later joined Radio Nigeria for a decade before returning to GBC in 1990, where he hosted programs like Sports Digest on GTV.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, 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.

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

Joe Lartey’s legacy as a pioneer in sports broadcasting will be fondly remembered by fans and colleagues alike.