President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Chairman of the National Juvenile Committee, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has called on the technical heads of Ghana’s juvenile national teams to strengthen unity and collaboration in their work, as the country intensifies its focus on youth football development.
Speaking at a strategic meeting held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, which brought together the National Juvenile Committee, the Technical Directorate, the National Teams Department, and Juvenile National Team Coaches, President Simeon-Okraku emphasized that teamwork and coordination are critical to the success of Ghana’s long-term football vision.
“We are not competing against each other. We are one unit, one family, working towards a common goal — to raise the standard of Ghana football starting from the base,” the GFA President said.
“The Juvenile national teams are the building blocks of our future Black Stars and Black Queens. If we don’t coordinate well from here, we won’t be able to get it right at the top,” he added.
The meeting, chaired by Samuel Anim Addo, Vice Chairman of the NJC, focused on the need for clear transition pathways for players, collaboration among coaches of the U15, U16, and U17 national teams, and synchronized scouting strategies to uncover and develop top talent.
President Simeon-Okraku encouraged coaches to put egos aside and prioritize Ghana’s football interest above all:
“Let’s not work in silos. I want to hear of teamwork. Let us share ideas, support each other, and ensure that no talent slips through our fingers because of poor coordination.”
Also present at the meeting were Technical Director Prof. J.K. Mintah, U15 Coach Yaw Preko, U16 Coach Odartey Lamptey, and Deputy U17 Coach Nana Kweku Agyemang, as well as other key stakeholders, including Samuel Aboabire, Chairman of the U15 Schools Football Committee and Eugene Nobel Noel, Chairman of the Elite U15 Committee.
The President’s words come as Ghana prepares for a series of youth tournaments, including the Elite U15 Championship to be staged at Prampram in the offseason.
This renewed emphasis on unity and teamwork among coaches signals a new era of strategic alignment aimed at harnessing the full potential of Ghana’s young football talents.
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