President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to rebuilding Ghana football from its very foundations, as he addressed club owners, administrators, match commissioners, technical directors, senior referees and Catch Them Young referees during his historic first-ever engagement in Wa as part of his Upper West Regional tour.
Describing his vision as one rooted in “fixing the fundamentals,” President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the need to identify and deliberately invest in the key ingredients required to build a strong and sustainable football ecosystem from the grassroots to the elite level.
“Fixing the fundamentals means identifying what must be invested in at the foundation level so we can build from the ground to the top,” he stated.
He outlined what he described as clear and deliberate progress made since 2019, pointing to massively enhanced support for Regional Football Associations, referees and youth development structures, including the Catch Them Young Referees programme.
According to the GFA President, support across all tiers of the game has been significantly strengthened, from the Ghana Premier League and Division One to the Women’s Premier League and Women’s Division One League. He revealed that the FA has, over the past two seasons, consistently invested $100,000 in the purchase of footballs for colts clubs and an additional $100,000 to support regional football.
“We see a clear attempt by the FA to support referee development, coach education and capacity building,” he said, highlighting the provision of free coaching courses for grassroots, elite and female coaches. He further disclosed that four Ghanaian coaches are currently in Wales pursuing advanced coaching licences.
President Simeon-Okraku also pointed to unprecedented improvements in broadcast visibility and financial investment in the domestic leagues. The Ghana Premier League, he noted, is enjoying arguably its best-ever television production, with Division One League Zones 2 and 3 currently airing on free-to-air TV and Zone 1 set to go live for the first time.
In a historic first, each Premier League club received GH¢1 million before the start of the season, while the FA is investing over GH¢9 million in prize money at the Premier League level, with the champions set to earn GH¢2 million.
At the Division One level, each club received GH¢120,000 in direct cash support, with the FA fully absorbing the cost of referees, match commissioners, venue media officers and cameramen, an intervention valued at over GH¢52,000 per club.
He further announced that all referees officiating in the Ghana Premier League, Women’s Premier League and Division One League, approximately 280 officials- are fully insured by the FA, with uniforms, training boots and vests set to be delivered. From next season, match commissioners will also be added to the list of beneficiaries.
Beyond competitions, President Simeon-Okraku highlighted the FA’s heavy investment in infrastructure, referencing the $742,000 spent on the Upper East Region’s FIFA-standard facility, which transformed an area that previously had no standard football pitch. The project includes a secured pitch, perimeter fencing, changing rooms, floodlights and a standby generator, with plans underway to add a dormitory to host national teams.
He also cited the remarkable transformation of the Prampram Technical Centre, noting that the facility. now owned by the GFA, has evolved into a national asset capable of hosting major football events and accommodating Congress delegates.
A passionate advocate for grassroots football, President Simeon-Okraku reaffirmed his commitment to youth development through the “Power to the Youth” policy, which has enabled regions, including Upper West, to participate in a minimum of five national championships annually.
“Every child now knows that if you play your regular season here, there is a national trip to Accra, a national stage, cameras, scouts and real opportunities,” he said.
He added that the Academy of Referees has been given an unprecedented platform through these youth tournaments, allowing young referees to be mentored, coached and practically assessed in competitive environments.
Concluding his address, the GFA President stressed the importance of listening to stakeholders at the regional level, describing them as the ultimate beneficiaries of the FA’s interventions.
“You are the recipients of what we deliver, so it is important for us to come to you, listen to you and find creative ways to solve the many challenges we face as a football family.” he said.
He reaffirmed that the FA’s overarching mission remains clear: to ignite passion and create wealth through football, by fixing the fundamentals and building the game from the bottom to the very top.
The President was joined by the Chairman of the Upper West Regional Football Association, Alhaji Sadugu Yahaya; GFA Regional Football Coordinator, Daseebre Adu Asare; Wa Suntaa SC President, Arif Daud; Chief of Staff, Michael Osekre and Dreams FC President, Jiji Alifoe Mohammed.
