Kurt Okraku (2nd L) with school authorities
President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has held a strategic meeting with the Headmaster and management of Bolgatanga Senior High School as part of his working tour of the Upper East Region, focusing on education, youth talent nurturing, and the long-term future of Ghana football.
The engagement centered on strengthening collaboration between the Football Association and the school, which hosts players under the GFA Elite Academy programme.
Discussions highlighted the importance of combining academic excellence with structured football development.
Mr. Okraku expressed deep appreciation to the Headmaster, Anthony Adimazoya, for the school’s continued support in accommodating Elite Academy players.
He commended the management and teaching staff for building an environment that enables student-athletes to excel academically while pursuing their football careers. He described the partnership as a strong example of how educational institutions and football authorities can work together to develop well-rounded talents.
According to the GFA President, Bolgatanga Senior High School has played a key role in the successful implementation of the Elite Academy project in the Upper East Region and stands as a model for integrated sports and education development.
Mr. Adimazoya, on his part, thanked the GFA delegation for the visit and acknowledged the Association’s confidence in the school. He reported steady progress among the academy players and noted the school’s recent triumph in the Upper East Super Zonal Football Championship — a title they had not won in many years — achieved with a squad largely made up of Elite Academy students.
The Elite Academy initiative at Winkogo began three years ago, when its first group of players gained admission to Bolgatanga Senior High School. The programme is part of the GFA’s broader policy of partnering selected senior high schools to merge formal education with elite football training.
Mr. Okraku reiterated that the FIFA-supported project reflects the FA’s long-term vision of repositioning Ghana as a powerhouse in African football, describing it as a strategic investment in the next generation.
BY Wletsu Ransford