The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to grassroots football by sustaining and expanding its investment in Colts football and youth development programmes nationwide. These measures form part of the Association’s broader strategy to build a strong, well-equipped, and sustainable football ecosystem from the grassroots up.
Recognising the vital role Colts football plays in talent discovery and development, the Kurt Okraku-led administration remains committed to implementing a comprehensive range of initiatives to empower clubs, coaches, administrators, and officials at the grassroots level. Key interventions include: free player registration for the first 30 Colts players in each age category (U-13, U-15, U-17), totalling 90 players per club; free training for 900 Colts coaches over three years (now in its second year); specialised training for media officers of all District Football Associations (DFAs); capacity-building programmes for DFA administrators; and first aid training for staff of both DFAs and Regional Football Associations (RFAs).
Additional measures comprise free officiating fees for Colts clubs, the provision of medals, plaques and trophies for RFA league competitions, KGL sponsorship support for the U-17 Colts Championship, and the training of regional scouts and development coaches across the country.
In a significant boost to girls’ football, the GFA will allocate GHS 80,000 to each Regional Football Association (RFA) to organise an 8-club U-15 Girls League for the 2025/26 season. This initiative strengthens the FA’s existing youth football framework and expands opportunities for young female players to develop and compete at both regional and national levels.
As part of its ongoing commitment to regional youth competitions, the GFA will continue funding the U-17, U-15, and U-13 Regional Colts Championships, with each participating region receiving one set of jerseys, 10 footballs, and GHS 10,000 in financial support per age category.
In recognition of excellence in the Women’s Division One League, the GFA will also reward each regional champion with one trophy, 10 footballs, and GHS 10,000 in prize money.
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku stressed that this commitment to youth football remains a cornerstone of the GFA’s mission:
“We believe that the future of Ghana football lies in our ability to develop, nurture and protect talent from the grassroots. These investments are not just about today’s competitions, they are about building a system that will consistently produce the next generation of football stars.”
With this sustained support, Colts and youth football in Ghana are set to thrive, ensuring a steady pipeline of talent for the country’s domestic leagues and national teams.
GFA Communications
