Kurt Okraku reaffirms commitment to sustainable development

President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth, strong governance and sustainable football development following a high-level strategic engagement with the leadership of the Upper West Regional Football Association (RFA).

The meeting, which formed part of his first official visit to the region, was held with the regional executive body led by Chairman Alhaji Sadugu Yahaya.

 Discussions centred on identifying opportunities, addressing key challenges and strengthening collaboration to accelerate football development across the Upper West Region.

Mr Okraku expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception and commended the region for its resilience and dedication to reviving the game despite past setbacks.

“Our responsibility was to revive football at every level when the game was brought to its knees,” he stated.

“The Premier League, Women’s League, Division One, Regional Leagues, Beach Soccer and Futsal had all come to a standstill. Through your dedication and commitment, we have revived the sport, and our people are once again enjoying football.”

He noted that renewed investment and targeted interventions by the GFA had reignited passion for the game nationwide, while also creating economic opportunities for clubs and administrators.

“Through your hard work, we have ignited passion among clubs and created wealth through several targeted financial support systems and cushions. I am happy to say that we have brought back the love and passion for football,” he added.

Women’s football

A major highlight of the engagement was his strong advocacy for women’s football development, particularly the introduction of the FIFA-supported U-15 Girls League. He described the initiative as a critical step in fixing the fundamentals of the women’s game.

“In the past, young girls were completely cut off from organised football and had to wait until Division One, which is not understandable,” he explained.

“The U-15 Girls League provides a clear first step for every young girl, allowing them to feel the ball early and grow naturally within the system.”