“Raise The Bar” – Mahama Tasks FA To Revive Youth Football

President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and club administrators to collaborate urgently to raise the standard of domestic football and revive the defunct Colts League.
Speaking during a courtesy call by a joint delegation from Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC, Nations FC, and Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC, President Mahama expressed deep concern over the declining quality of the local league.
“We are too quick to sell our players. As soon as a player shows promise, scouts take him away, mostly to Europe, and that depletes the quality of our local league,” the President stated.
“We must find a way to keep our talented players longer, give them opportunities in the national team, allow them to gain international experience, and then let them move abroad after they have matured.”
He also questioned the neglect of grassroots development, asking about the state of youth football in the country: “I do not know what happened to it, so I want to ask the Football Association: what has happened to the Colts League?”
President Mahama advocated for equal attention and deliberate investment in women’s football, pointing out that female teams have brought more glory to the nation despite receiving less financial backing.
“Our women have won more trophies for us than the men, and yet we put all the money into men’s football,” he noted. “In the spirit of affirmative action, we must support women’s football and help bring the women’s teams up.”
He pledged to increase allocations to the Sports Development Fund once it becomes fully operational, ensuring sustained investment across all sporting disciplines nationwide.
To demonstrate support for Ghanaian teams representing the nation in Africa, the president presented a combined financial token of GHS 684,000 to the three visiting clubs.
Medeama SC received GH¢S 342,000 to support their ongoing CAF Champions League campaign ahead of their critical second-leg preliminary clash against Congolese giants TP Mazembe on Saturday, 12 September.
Nations FC received GHS 228,000 to boost preparations for their CAF Confederation Cup fixture against FC Diarra.
Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC received GHS 114,000 to support their continental ambitions in women’s football.
Senior executives and officials from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Ghana Football Association, and the National Sports Authority (NSA) attended the meeting.