In a bold step to reshape the future of Ghanaian football, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially formed a high-powered committee to oversee the launch of the first-ever 2nd Division ELITE U19 Championship.
This fresh tournament, launched under the GFA’s Power to the Youth drive, targets the discovery and development of rising stars born between January 1 and December 31, 2007, from Ghana’s Second Division. It reflects a wider pledge made by CAF 2nd Vice-President and GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku during the Association’s most recent Congress in Prampram.
The newly formed committee which is made up of prominent football personalities will be tasked with everything from scouting structures to scheduling and ensuring clubs comply with player eligibility and development standards.
This isn’t just another youth competition, it’s a platform to build the next Mohammed Kudus or Thomas Partey.
The championship will feature top-performing U19 squads from 2nd Division clubs across the country, offering them a chance to compete in a high-visibility, talent-driven environment. Scouts from top-flight clubs are expected to descend in droves when the tournament kicks off.
Committee Members
The five-member panel features great football brainy's with deep roots in youth development:
Abdul Salaam Yakubu – Chairperson
Enoch Agyare – Deputy Chair
Edem Kofi Ansah – Member
Michael Fiaduse – Member
Samuel Owusu Amoah – Member
Our checks have uncovered that the GFA plans to use the tournament to feed the national U20 team, while also enforcing more stringent policies on player development at the club level.
With the GFA under increasing pressure to reignite the country’s football identity, this initiative could mark the beginning of a long-overdue transformation.
All eyes are now on the committee as they begin the countdown to kick-off later this year.
By: Pascal Amoah
