Greater Accra underlined their strength in Ghanaian taekwondo by emerging overall champions of the 16th Korean Ambassador’s Cup at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra last Saturday.
The regional team claimed the Best Regional Team trophy and dominated the individual honours as 168 registered athletes from seven regions competed in Kyorugi — the sport’s sparring discipline — and Poomsae.
Greater Accra faced competitors from the Central, Western, Upper East, Volta, Eastern and Bono regions in a championship designed to identify and develop Ghana’s next generation of taekwondo talent.
Their dominance extended across multiple age divisions. Setorme Tornyevah was named Best Female 10/11 years Kyorugi athlete, while Issah Zulkif and Ramatu Salifu secured the Best Male and Best Female Cadet Kyorugi awards respectively.
Ismael Halid strengthened Greater Accra’s grip on the competition by winning the Best Male Junior Kyorugi prize.
The region also swept the Poomsae honours, with Yoofi Aggrey-Fynn named Best Male and Sitta Tornyevah taking the Best Female Award.
Gaddiel Cromwell provided one of Eastern Region’s standout performances, winning the Best Male 10/11 years Kyorugi award, while Western Region’s Afua Otoo was adjudged the Best Female Junior Kyorugi athlete.
Beyond the medals, the annual championship reinforced the longstanding partnership between the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ghana.
The embassy presented the federation with a substantial quantity of uniforms and protective equipment, including forearm guards, taekwondo uniforms, kicking targets, head protectors and shin guards.
The support continues a relationship that will mark its 50th anniversary in 2027 and has included efforts to provide Ghanaian athletes with international exposure.
GTF President Frederick Lartey Otu expressed the federation’s gratitude to the Korean Embassy for its sustained investment in the sport and outlined plans to widen taekwondo’s national reach.
He highlighted the importance of the GTF’s awareness campaign, scheduled to begin in September with a focus on the Northern and Central regions.
The initiative forms part of the federation’s attempt to grow participation beyond taekwondo’s established centres.
Mr Otu said developing qualified coaches, referees and administrators remained a priority if Ghana was to improve competitive standards, ensure fair officiating and strengthen athlete protection.
The Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Park Kyongsig, reaffirmed the embassy’s commitment to providing further technical assistance and equipment to support the sport’s development across the country.
He described taekwondo as an important cultural bridge between Ghana and Korea, with benefits extending beyond competition to discipline, youth development and mental well-being.
“I am delighted to see many young Ghanaians embracing taekwondo,” Ambassador Park said. “Korea remains committed to supporting its development through equipment, technical assistance and cultural exchange.”
Greater Accra may have dominated the medals, but the championship’s broader significance lay in its national spread, comprising seven regions, 168 athletes and a development partnership approaching half a century.
