The Ghana Football Association (GFA) continues its women’s football investment streak by funding a talent pathway for girls aged between 6-12. The ‘Football4Girls’ initiative launched in 2022 and has seen swathes of funding for girls’ sports in the country.
Congregating in Saltpond in the central region of South Ghana, 285 school-aged girls attended the introduction of the new programme. GFA officials were present as the girls were educated on several sports-based subjects as part of the ‘Football4Girls’ initiative.
The programme stressed the importance of maintaining academic focus as sport becomes more of a priority in their young lives. This came alongside a session on common social misconceptions of girls who play sport. Not only was free training delivered by the coaches in attendance, but football kits and souvenirs of the event were gifted to the girls.
Recently, the GFA has heavily expanded the youth level national teams in another bid to increase young girls’ participation in the sport. One of many steps that the GFA has now put in place to properly structure women’s football through the country.
Is there a bright future for Ghanian football?
Ghana currently sit 65th in the Women’s FIFA World Rankings, sandwiched between Uruguay and 2024 Olympians Zambia. This placement showcases the nation’s obvious potential as a future footballing giant.
Ghana have not qualified for a World Cup since 2007. But it’s good to see that the GFA aren’t shy of investing in future generations to avoid such a long absence going forward.
Head of women’s football at the GFA, Jennifer Amankwa Sarpong, attended the launch. There is also a heavy focus on diversity within the new ‘Football4Girls’ scheme. The GFA has stated that: “Young girls from diverse backgrounds will have equitable access to football.”
This further funding follows the news in February that the GFA was completely funding the training of 40 women coaches. The initiative’s goal was to decrease the gender gap in Ghanaian coaching.
