Kurt Okraku Reaffirms GFA Commitment to Grassroots Football at Colts Season Launch

Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to grassroots football at the launch of the 2026/27 Colts Football Season, outlining efforts to strengthen the pathway from community football to professional and national-team football.

The launch, held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, marked the sixth consecutive season since the GFA revived and restructured the Colts football system in 2020.

Speaking at the ceremony, Okraku paid tribute to generations of Ghanaian football stars whose journeys to the highest levels of the sport began on community pitches through the Colts system.

He said the stories of those former Colts players serve as a reminder that the foundation of Ghana’s football future must be built at the grassroots.

“The future of Ghana football begins at the Colts,” Okraku said, emphasising the importance of providing young talents with the right environment to develop their abilities and pursue their football dreams.

As part of efforts to strengthen the system, the GFA announced a major logistical support package for Colts clubs.

The package includes 3,000 footballs, 15,000 jerseys, 15,000 bibs and 15,000 pairs of casual shoes for clubs across the country.

The initiative comes alongside the GFA’s annual investment of US$100,000 in footballs for grassroots football, further demonstrating the Association’s focus on improving resources available to young players and their clubs.

Okraku also expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for placing renewed attention on Colts football, describing the move as an important step towards giving greater visibility to grassroots development.

According to the GFA President, investing in the foundations of the game remains central to his vision of fixing the fundamentals of Ghana football.

He also acknowledged the contribution of the GFA’s partners, sponsors, stakeholders and former Colts legends who attended the launch and continue to support the development of young footballers.

For Okraku, the presence of former Colts stars at the ceremony was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when young talent is given the opportunity, structure and platform to grow.

The 2026/27 season therefore begins with renewed emphasis on developing football from the community level, where many of Ghana’s celebrated players first discovered their talent.

With continued investment, logistical support and stronger structures, the GFA hopes to create an environment where the next generation can dream, develop and ultimately fulfil their potential.

The message from the launch was clear: Ghana’s next generation of football stars could be playing on a Colts pitch today.

Source: Accra Street Journal

Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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