… Foundation Of Ghana Football Gets Hope
President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr. Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, and Asamoah ‘Baby Jet’ Gyan, Ambassador of the national football teams, have officially launched the 2026/27 Colts Football season as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots football development in the country.
The launch took place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, with the attendance of regional FA chairmen, some legends of the game, notably Mohammed Ahmed Polo, George Alhassan, Joe Acheampong, Baffoe Gyan, John Paintsil, Afo Dodoo, Maxwell Konadu, and club owners. The Ghana Supporters, led by Apirigu Chakapama, were also present to provide jama songs.
Former Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan, who played for Cedabs Babies Colts Club at Mamprobi / Korle Gonno, said Colts Football is the foundation that gives players the fortitude and mental toughness to play everywhere and for the national team.
The event marked the sixth consecutive campaign since the Colts football system was revived and restructured by the Okraku-led GFA in 2020. He said the programme has since grown into a national grassroots football movement with support from KGL Foundation.
According to Kurt Okraku, who shared some memories of his early Colts life when he was the bankroller, captain and top striker of Jawara Babies at Achimota, there are currently 859 active Colts clubs across Ghana’s ten football regions, with Ashanti recording the highest number of clubs at 245, followed by Greater Accra with 216.
The second vice president of the Confederation of African Football said the GFA has continued to invest in the development of coaches, players, referees and other stakeholders within the Colts football system.
“Over the past two seasons, the GFA has spent GH¢1.8 million to train 600 Colts coaches through its CAF Licence D Coaching Programme. The three-year initiative targets 900 coaches, with the final phase scheduled for this year,” he expressed.
The FIFA Committee of Racism chairman stated that the GFA has also introduced measures aimed at reducing the financial burden on clubs, including free player registration and digital licences for up to 90 players per club, as well as the removal of referee fees.
“Girls’ football remains an important part of the programme, with the association investing GH¢800,000 through the Regional Football Associations to organise Elite U-15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues”, he added.
The 2026/27 season will also feature the new KIVO/JLAB U-17 Colts Inter-Club Championship and the inaugural GFA Colts Awards later in the year.
Kurt Okraku noted that the long-term objective of the GFA is to create a clear pathway from grassroots football to elite development, professional clubs and the national teams.
He called on Colts clubs, coaches, scouts, referees, parents and other stakeholders to work together to ensure that young talents across the country receive opportunities to develop.
The GFA president announced a donation of 3,000 footballs from Hoshi International for distribution to Colts clubs across the country ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Hoshi International, marketers and distributors of X1 Energy Drink, presented the 3,000 footballs to the GFA to support grassroots football development.
In addition to the footballs are 15,000 jerseys and 15,000 pairs of casual shoes for distribution to Colts clubs nationwide.
The GFA president also mentioned a three-year equipment support programme under which each Colts club will receive 10 footballs per season and two sets of football bibs every season. The initiative aims to provide Colts clubs with essential equipment and reduce some of the logistical challenges associated with grassroots football.
The GFA has continued to invest in footballs for Colts clubs, spending US$100,000 annually to procure footballs for grassroots football.
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku appealed to the government to allow Colts clubs across the country to use government-owned astroturf facilities for free.
“I’m very sure that President Mahama, given his interests in football and in Colts football, will grant this request and make sure that our young boys and girls have free access to the government-owned Astro pitches across the country,” he said.
By Sammy Heywood Okine
