The President of the Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has highlighted significant progress in the development of the FA’s three Elite Football Academies, describing the programme as a key pillar of Ghana’s long-term talent development strategy.
Addressing delegates at the 32nd Ordinary Session of Congress, he revealed that the GFA invests GHS 1.4 million annually in the management and development of the three academies.
The investment is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s player-development pathway by providing talented young footballers with access to structured football training alongside formal education.
The academies form part of the GFA’s broader “Power to the Youth” strategy, designed to identify, nurture and prepare promising players for progression into the national teams and professional football.
A significant milestone has been reached with the first cohort of Academy players successfully completing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and preparing to graduate.
The achievement highlights the dual focus of the programme, which seeks to ensure that young footballers receive both quality sporting development and a strong educational foundation.
The success of the academies is also being reflected on the international stage.
President Simeon-Okraku revealed that 11 players from the GFA Elite Football Academy are currently members of Ghana’s U-17 national team.
He described the figure as a clear indication of the effectiveness of the GFA’s talent identification and player development programmes.
The presence of so many academy graduates within the national youth setup provides an important measure of the programme’s ability to produce players capable of progressing to the highest levels of youth football.
To further improve the quality of training and player welfare, the GFA has recruited 10 technical personnel, including coaches, goalkeepers’ coaches and physiotherapists.
The new personnel are supporting the operations of the Elite Football Academies at Prempeh College in Kumasi and Achimota Senior High School in Accra, strengthening both the technical and welfare components of the programme.
President Simeon-Okraku said the continued investment in the academies is central to creating a sustainable talent pipeline for Ghana football.
GFA Communications
