Watch as Akufo-Addo pays his last respect to legendary commentator Joe Lartey

The final funeral rites for the late Ghanaian commentator, Joe Lartey, were held at the forecourt of the State House on September 20, 2024.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo attended the event to pay his last respects to the distinguished journalist.

In a video shared by GTV Sports+ on X, the president, dressed in a black suit, was accompanied by security personnel and other members of his entourage.

Akufo-Addo stood before the casket and bowed as a sign of respect to the deceased, acknowledging Lartey's contributions to the nation and his role in shaping sports journalism in Ghana.

Joe Lartey, who passed away at the age of 96, was a prominent journalist whose career began in 1961 with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

He started in the talks and features department before moving to the sports department, eventually becoming a household name.

The esteemed broadcaster served as the first president of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) after the group's inception in 1968.

Lartey also practised journalism in Nigeria for about a decade during his illustrious career.

At the height of his broadcasting career, Joe Lartey was often accompanied by the late Lt Col Festus Addae as his co-commentator, who would famously say, “Over to you, Joe Lartey!” when handing over to Lartey, the lead commentator.

This phrase became popular among sports journalists and enthusiasts in Ghana.

Watch the video below:

The President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo, has paid his last respects to Writer and Commentator Joe Lartey — a man who, in many ways, shaped sports journalism in Ghana today. #GTVSports pic.twitter.com/DrMiT9GhDa

— GTV SPORTS+ (@mygtvsports) September 20, 2024