By Kwame Bediako
Ghana’s Upper East Region has finally received its first FIFA-standard football pitch, thanks to a $742,000 investment from FIFA. The pitch, which hosts the first-ever GFA Elite Football Academy, was unveiled on Tuesday, April 15, at a ceremony where Nissan 4×4 pickups were also presented to various Regional Football Associations. Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku expressed his gratitude to FIFA for its support in developing Ghanaian football.
Until now, the Upper East Region lacked a single FIFA-standard pitch, making this development a significant milestone for football growth in the area. The new facility is part of the FIFA Forward initiative, a key component of Okraku’s commitment to regional football development. With this pitch, young players in the region will have access to top-class training facilities, paving the way for a brighter future in football.
Okraku highlighted FIFA’s commitment to the GFA’s agenda of fixing the fundamentals of Ghanaian football. “The office in France, in Paris, has been very supportive of the Ghanaian FA in our agenda to fix the fundamentals, or the very foundation, of our football,” he said. This partnership between the GFA and FIFA is expected to yield positive results for Ghanaian football.
The first-ever GFA Elite Football Academy, located at the new pitch, will provide young players with world-class training and education. This academy is part of the GFA’s broader efforts to develop football infrastructure and support talented players across Ghana. It will combine academic education with football training, offering a holistic approach to nurturing the next generation of footballers.
