GFA launches FIFA-backed U15 Girls league to anchor women’s football future
The Ghana Football Association has launched the maiden edition of the FIFA-backed U15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues, marking what officials describe as a major step in building a sustainable development pathway for women’s football in the country.
The launch ceremony, held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the GFA headquarters, brought together key stakeholders in the women’s game, including FIFA Consultant Thuba Sibanda, members of the GFA Executive Council, Regional Football Association chairmen, technical experts, administrators and young footballers drawn from across the country.
Welcoming participants, GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo stressed that the success of the new competition would depend on collective ownership and sustained collaboration, urging all stakeholders to remain committed to nurturing young female talent nationwide.
In his keynote address, GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku described the introduction of the U15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues as a defining moment in Ghana’s women’s football journey and expressed gratitude to FIFA for its continued backing through the Women’s Football Development Programme.
“I wish to begin by expressing our profound appreciation to FIFA for its continued support through the Women’s Football Development Programme. This initiative is a testament to what is possible when vision, partnership and purposeful investment come together in service of development,” he said.
President Simeon-Okraku said the league was the result of deliberate policy choices taken by his administration since assuming office in 2019, noting that women’s football had moved beyond rhetoric to sustained investment.
“Since assuming office in 2019, my administration has been unwavering in its commitment to women’s football. We made a clear choice to move beyond rhetoric and invest strategically, structurally and sustainably,” he stated.
He explained that the U15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues, which will be staged across all ten football regions, provide a nationally coordinated and accessible pathway for girls under the age of 15 to progress into elite football structures.
“This league provides a structured and competitive platform for young girls across all 10 football regions of our country, ensuring early talent identification, consistent development and increased participation. For the first time, young female footballers under the age of 15 now have a clear, accessible and nationally coordinated pathway into elite football,” he said.
Beyond the technical benefits, the GFA President emphasised the broader social value of the initiative, describing it as a platform for character development and empowerment.
“This league is about more than producing footballers. It is about shaping character. It is about instilling discipline, teamwork, confidence and excellence. It is about empowering young girls to believe in their potential — not only as footballers, but as leaders, professionals and role models in society,” he noted.
President Simeon-Okraku also pointed to the progress made in women’s football in recent years, linking grassroots investment to improved performance at the highest level.
“Our investment in women’s football is already yielding results… That progress has culminated in the resurgence and success of our senior national team, the Black Queens, who have once again risen to reclaim their place among Africa’s elite,” he said.
He, however, cautioned that sustained success at the top must be anchored on strong foundations, describing the U15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues as critical to the future of Ghana’s women’s national teams.
“The U15 Girls Regional Colts Leagues represent the foundation upon which the next generation of the Black Maidens, Black Princesses and ultimately the Black Queens will be built. This is where dreams will be nurtured, talent refined and futures shaped,” he stressed.
Reaffirming the GFA’s long-term commitment, President Simeon-Okraku assured young players and stakeholders of continued support from the Association.
“The Ghana Football Association is committed to walking this journey with you every step of the way… This launch reaffirms our belief that the future of Ghana football is inclusive, progressive and female,” he declared.
The event was attended by several key figures in Ghana football, including Brong Ahafo Regional Football Association Chairman Dr Charles Osei Anto, who also serves as Chairman of the U15 Girls Management Committee, GFA Technical Director Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah, regional FA chairmen and other stakeholders.
The newly introduced league is expected to strengthen Ghana’s women’s football development pipeline by enhancing early talent identification, promoting grassroots participation and ensuring a smoother transition from youth football to elite and national team levels.
