Ghana football is putting its money where its future is. At the 32nd Ordinary Congress in Prampram, GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku unveiled a wide youth development plan built around one simple idea: give young players the tools, coaching and games they need to grow.
At the centre of the plan is the new Triple Ball Development Policy, also known as the “One Player, Three Football Policy”. Every registered player in the Premier League, Division One, Women’s Football, Regional Leagues and Colts Football will receive three footballs each season for four years.
“One of the most transformative initiatives we are introducing is the Triple Ball Development Policy,” Simeon-Okraku said. “Every footballer’s journey begins with a ball.”
The policy is designed to take development beyond organised training. With players able to practise more often on their own, the GFA hopes to improve technical skills and make access to basic equipment less dependent on a club’s resources.
But the plan goes far beyond footballs. The GFA says it has invested GHS 1.8 million over two seasons to train 600 Colts coaches through the CAF Licence D programme.
There is also a new UMB Under-19 League, which will bring professional clubs and accredited academies into a structured competition. The aim is to bridge the difficult gap between youth football and the senior game.
The pathway will now run from U13 through U15, U17 and U19 football. The GFA will also maintain its Youth Integration policy, which requires clubs across several divisions to give young Ghanaian players opportunities at senior level.
Girls’ football is also part of the push. The association has committed GHS 800,000 to support an Elite U15 Girls Regional Colts League, while regional youth competitions will receive jerseys, footballs and financial support.
The 2026 Colts season will officially launch in Accra on September 8. The GFA will also introduce the KIVO/JLAB U17 Inter-Clubs Champions League.
Simeon-Okraku believes the investment can help rebuild Ghana’s football pipeline. “We will continue to invest in our children today, because they are the champions who will carry the hopes of our nation tomorrow,” he said.
The real test will now come on the pitches across Ghana. For the next generation, the message is clear: three balls, more games, better coaching, and a bigger chance to make the leap.
