President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, announced the approval and immediate implementation of the GFA Registered Football Academy Licensing Regulations 2025 — a policy aimed at transforming the development of football talent in Ghana, at the 31st Ordinary Session of Congress held at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
“Distinguished Members of Congress, it is with great enthusiasm that I announce another significant stride in the development of our football — the approval and immediate implementation of the GFA Registered Football Academy Licensing Regulations 2025,” Okraku declared.
The newly approved framework is designed to regulate, license and oversee the operations of football academies across the country. According to the GFA President, it represents “a firm commitment to nurturing talent within a structured, professional and safe environment.”
Highlighting the need for reform, President Simeon- Okraku noted that “for far too long, the operation of football academies in Ghana has lacked uniformity and oversight.” The new regulations establish enforceable standards for infrastructure, technical staffing, child welfare, and operational integrity, ensuring that any institution bearing the name Academy meets these requirements.
To facilitate a smooth transition, existing clubs currently using the term “Academy” in their names will be given a one-year period to comply with the new standards. “At the end of this period, any club that fails to meet the required standards will be required to remove ‘Academy’ from its name and re-register as a football club,” the President explained.
The regulations will apply not only to traditional football academies but also to those engaged in Beach Soccer and Futsal, for both boys and girls.
Calling on the football fraternity to support the reform, the GFA President urged, “Let us all embrace this important reform, knowing that it serves the future of our game.”
The introduction of the Academy Licensing Regulations marks a major milestone in Ghana football, promising to raise standards, protect young players and create a sustainable pathway for talent development nationwide.
GFA Communications
