FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has commended Ghana for its exceptional utilisation of the FIFA Forward and various support programmes, citing the nation’s impressive strides in football development over the last decade.
Mr. Infantino underscored a period of significant progress, characterised by robust infrastructure expansion and a deliberate surge in participation, particularly within the women’s game.
At the centre of this transformation is the strategic upgrading of national assets, most notably the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.
The facility, which serves as the country’s national technical hub, has undergone substantial enhancements, including the installation of modern floodlights, the construction of a 30-bed residential facility for visiting teams, and the addition of state-of-the-art artificial and natural turf pitches.
Furthermore, the sport’s footprint has been extended to northern Ghana through the inauguration of a new technical centre in Winkogo.
President Infantino highlighted the collaborative success between FIFA and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), led by President Kurt Okraku.
Under Mr. Okraku’s stewardship, the GFA has leveraged the FIFA Talent Development Scheme to revitalise participation across all demographics.
This concentrated effort has yielded tangible results, most notably in women’s football, where FIFA-backed support for the National Women’s League was instrumental in the Black Queens’ successful qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The synergy between local governance and international investment has also reflected in the performance of the men’s senior national team.
“Ghana has been one of the member associations that have made excellent use of the FIFA Forward and other FIFA Support Programmes over the years. The national technical centre, Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence, now has new floodlights, a 30-bed accommodation for teams and two new pitches (artificial and natural turf). Another technical centre has been inaugurated in Winkogo, in the northern part of the country,” President Infantino noted.
The Black Stars’ successive qualifications for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the upcoming tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States serve as a testament to the effectiveness of these developmental programmes.
Reflecting on the progress, President Infantino emphasised that Ghana serves as a prime example of a member association that has mastered the use of FIFA support to elevate its local landscape.
By investing in essential infrastructure and prioritising the growth of the women’s game, the GFA is effectively positioning the nation for a brighter future on both the continental and global stages. This partnership serves as a blueprint for how international collaboration can be harmonised with local initiatives to foster a self-sustaining and thriving football ecosystem.
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