David Accam lauds new Right to Dream Academy as ‘hope for Ghana’s next generation’
Former Ghana international David Accam has described the Mansour Group’s plan to build a new Right to Dream (RTD) Academy near Accra as a “game-changer”, saying the project will transform opportunities for young Ghanaians both on and off the field.
The winger, a graduate of the original RTD Academy, said the new world-class facility represents the next chapter in the academy’s evolution, blending elite football training with strong academic grounding. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with completion projected for 2027. During the transition, staff will remain employed and scholarships will continue at a temporary Accra-area site.
“I was part of the first generations coming through the Right to Dream academy in Ghana. Though I am grateful for the opportunity that changed my life, I am also aware that the students and kids in the program today are benefitting from the progress the organisation has made over the years since I started,” Accam said.
Having risen from RTD’s early days to play in Europe with Helsingborg and later in Major League Soccer for Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union and Nashville SC, Accam said he has seen first-hand the steady growth of the initiative. “I watched it grow with more kids, more opportunities, educational pathway, and the growing network of clubs and schools. And now the next step is ready to be taken with the commitment from the Mansour family to build a great new facility for the Right to Dream students and staff. It makes me happy and even more hopeful for the future,” he said.
Founded in 1999, the Right to Dream Academy has built a reputation for combining “books and boots” – providing pathways in both education and professional football. Alumni such as Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ernest Nuamah and Abdul Mumin have gone on to represent Ghana’s Black Stars, while others have earned scholarships to top universities abroad.
Accam noted that RTD’s influence now stretches far beyond the pitch. “To see how Right to Dream has impacted our Black Stars and Queens, from where it started to where it is today, is mind-blowing, but not a surprise to me. I’m sure there’s more to come. And it’s not just about players,” he said, adding that many graduates now serve as coaches and mentors within the RTD network. “I see many of my former friends and brothers from the academy who today are coaches – both at the RTD academy but also in clubs and abroad. The future looks bright.”
Since acquiring RTD in 2021, the Mansour Group’s investment arm, Man Capital LLP, has poured over US$180 million into expanding the network, launching new academies in Cairo and San Diego. The Accra facility will be the third major project since the acquisition and will accommodate more than 100 student-athletes, with modern classrooms, dormitories, and performance infrastructure.
The Ghanaian government has welcomed the project as a strong signal of confidence in local talent and a boost for public-private partnerships in youth development. The Mansour Group said the new academy aligns with its long-term investments in Ghana’s industrial and training sectors, including Mantrac’s engineering initiatives.
For Accam, the new campus symbolises more than just physical infrastructure. It represents a generational leap for Ghanaian youth – a homegrown system that equips them to dream bigger and achieve more.
