Kurt Okraku
Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has opened a two-day FIFA Amateur Football Environment Analysis programme in Accra to assess the state of amateur football and identify ways to strengthen the player development pathway.
The programme, being held from August 25 to 26, 2026, at the Alisa Hotel, is led by FIFA Technical Experts Ali Mwebe and Serame Ezekiel Letsoaka, who oversees amateur football in Africa, with support from the GFA Technical Directorate.
The opening day brought together members of the GFA Executive Council, Management and technical staff for detailed discussions on Ghana’s amateur football structures and development environment.
Among those present were Executive Council members Frederick Acheampong, Kingsley Osei Bonsu and Samuel Aboabire, as well as General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo.
Other participants included Deputy General Secretaries Ama Brobey-Williams, Alex Asante and Francis Adu, GFA Technical Director Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah and Head of Coach Education Dr. Prosper Nartey Ogum.
The second day will expand the discussions to external stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, National Sports Authority, Ministry of Education, Ghana Olympic Committee and Ghana Education Service.
Representatives from the Women’s Football Committee, various leagues, sporting media, Medical Committee, Referees Committee, junior national team coaches, Beach Soccer, Futsal and football academies are also expected to participate.
The programme is providing stakeholders with insights into how amateur football is structured globally while examining Ghana’s existing systems, challenges and opportunities.
The discussions are expected to help identify practical areas for collaboration and strengthen Ghana’s amateur football structures, particularly in creating improved development opportunities for young players.
BY Wletsu Ransford