President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and football club administrators to work together to improve the standard of domestic football and revive the country’s defunct Colts League.
President Mahama made the call during a courtesy visit by a joint delegation from Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC, Nations FC and Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC.
The President expressed concern about the declining quality of the Ghana Premier League, attributing part of the challenge to the early departure of promising Ghanaian players to clubs abroad.
He said Ghana is losing talented footballers too quickly because young players are often recruited by foreign scouts shortly after emerging in the domestic league.
President Mahama called for measures to keep talented players in Ghana for longer periods, giving them opportunities to develop through the domestic league, gain experience with the Black Stars and eventually secure international transfers when they are sufficiently mature.
The President also raised concerns about the state of grassroots football development in Ghana, questioning what had happened to the Colts League, which traditionally served as an important pathway for nurturing young football talents.
Mahama Calls for Greater Investment in Women’s Football
President Mahama also advocated increased support for women’s football in Ghana, noting that female national teams have achieved significant success despite receiving comparatively less financial support.
He argued that greater investment in women’s football would help develop talented female players, strengthen national teams and improve Ghana’s competitiveness in international competitions.
The President pledged to increase funding for the Sports Development Fund once the initiative becomes fully operational. The additional resources, he said, would support sustainable investment across various sporting disciplines.
Government Supports Ghanaian Clubs in CAF Competitions
As part of efforts to support Ghanaian clubs competing in African football competitions, President Mahama presented a combined financial package of GH¢684,000 to the three clubs.
Medeama SC received GH¢342,000 to support its CAF Champions League campaign ahead of its crucial second-leg preliminary-round match against Congolese giants TP Mazembe on Saturday, September 12.
Nations FC was presented with GH¢228,000 to assist preparations for its CAF Confederation Cup fixture against FC Diarra.
Meanwhile, Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC received GH¢114,000 to support its campaign and ambitions in continental women’s football.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the National Sports Authority (NSA).
President Mahama’s intervention highlights renewed calls for stronger grassroots football development, improved domestic league standards, player retention and increased investment in Ghanaian football.
Source: newsthemegh.com