The Ghana Football Association has invested GHC 1.8 million over the past two football seasons to train 600 Colts coaches nationwide, as part of a GFA-funded CAF Licence D Coaching Programme aimed at strengthening the grassroots pipeline that feeds the country’s football system.
The figures were disclosed by GFA President and CAF Second Vice-President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku at the official launch of the 2026/27 Colts Football Season, an event held under the campaign banner “This Is The Love.”
Speaking on the scale and purpose of the initiative, Simeon-Okraku framed the coaching drive as a direct investment in the technical foundation of youth football across the country’s regions.
Over the past two seasons, the GFA has invested GHC 1.8 million to train 600 Colts coaches through the GFA-funded CAF Licence D Coaching Programme.” Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President, GFA
According to the GFA President, the programme has already begun to show results at the grassroots level, with the trained coaches now positioned to raise the standard of instruction for young players entering the Colts system. He confirmed that the initiative forms part of a broader three-year plan with a higher target still to be met.
600 coaches are now better equipped to teach, guide and develop our young players. Our three-year programme targets 900 Colts coaches, and the final phase will take place this year.” Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President, GFA
With 600 coaches already certified, the GFA has 300 places remaining to reach its target of 900 by the close of the programme’s final phase this year, a target that, if met, would mark full completion of the three-year coaching cycle in time for the new season.
The launch event also offered a regional snapshot of where Colts football is concentrated across Ghana. Ashanti Region leads the country with 245 registered Colts clubs, followed closely by Greater Accra with 216. Brong Ahafo and the Northern Region each account for 98 clubs, while Central Region follows with 90.
Ashanti leads with highest number of Colts with 245 clubs, followed by Greater Accra with 216. Brong Ahafo and Northern have 98 each, Central has 90, Western 50, Eastern 26, Upper East 15, Upper West 11, and Volta 10.” Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President, GFA
Colts Clubs by Region
Region Clubs
Ashanti:245
Greater Accra: 216
Brong Ahafo: 98
Northern 98
Central 90
Western: 50
Eastern: 26
Upper East 15
Upper West:11
Volta: 10
National Total: 859
The regional distribution underscores the uneven but expanding footprint of Colts football across Ghana, with the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions together accounting for more than half of all registered clubs nationwide, while regions such as Volta, Upper West and Upper East remain comparatively underrepresented.
The GFA’s coaching investment is positioned to address this imbalance over time, with officials indicating that continued expansion of certified coaching capacity in underrepresented regions remains a priority as the federation works toward its 900-coach target.
The launch of the 2026/27 Colts Football Season formally opens the new campaign for youth football nationwide, with the completion of the final phase of the CAF Licence D programme expected to further strengthen technical standards across the grassroots game this year.