11 interesting things you (probably) didn’t know about iconic broadcaster Joe Lartey

Joachim Awuley Lartey, popularly known as “Over to You” Joe Lartey, won the heart and admiration of many Ghanaians as an iconic broadcaster with his mastery and authority in sports commentary.

Born on 6 June 1927 in Accra, Lartey was the first president of the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana (SWAG).

Lartey’s journey in journalism began at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1961, following a recommendation by a friend.

He started in the talks and features department at GBC before moving to the sports department, where he flourished as a football commentator.

Joe Lartey who won the heart and admiration of many Ghanaians as an iconic broadcaster, with his mastery and authority in sports commentary died on Friday (26 April).

Here are 11 interesting things we bet you didn’t know about the late iconic broadcaster.

1. British navy

Lartey joined the British navy at the age of 16 against his father’s will. He served in the British Navy for roughly four years and attributes some important lessons learned in life to that time. He says joining the navy made him a better man.

2. Chain smoker

He recently told the journalist Nathalie Fort in an exclusive interview that he was a chain smoker.

3. Loquacious

The ace broadcaster was nicknamed “Awuley the Talker” by his grandmother because he has always talked a lot.

4. Healthy lifestyle

Lartey says he loves doing things that keep him fit, such as taking a long walk daily.

5. Public relations officer

He worked with the Ghana Food Distribution Corporation as a public relations officer after leaving the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

6. Union leader

The ace broadcaster was a union secretary during his time at GBC and was a vociferous champion of the rights of workers. The pressure that comes with such a role was among the reasons why he left GBC and became active in politics.

7. Confiscation

The 95-year-old had his property confiscated by a military government, as did other personalities such as Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (now the president of Ghana).

8. Refugee

After the confiscation of his property, Lartey left Ghana and relocated to Nigeria, where he described himself as a “refugee”.  He stayed in Nigeria and practiced journalism there for about a decade.

9. Priest?

His father had wanted him to become a priest and not a broadcaster.

10. Dark glass

Lartey says he wants to keep a dark glass around his marriage and the number of his children for a good reason. However, he believes one must learn to value human beings, regardless of their status in life. He believes a good name is better than reasonable riches.

11. The 1948 Accra riots

Lartey was among the ex-servicemen demobilised after the Second World War who marched towards the British governor’s residence at Christiansborg Castle in 1948, demanding that they receive end-of-war benefits and pay that they had been promised.

A colonial police officer shot three of his colleagues on that fateful day – 28 February 1948. The killing of Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey sparked the 1948 Accra riot.

Fred Dzakpata

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