Kurt Okraku engages Tamale Mayor to boost Northern football development

President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has held strategic discussions with the Mayor of Tamale, Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration and accelerate football development across the Northern Regions.

The meeting formed a key component of the GFA President’s broader stakeholder consultations within the three Northern Regions — a tour designed to foster inclusive dialogue, strengthen institutional partnerships, and advance the growth of the game at all levels.

During the engagement, President Simeon-Okraku expressed profound appreciation to the Mayor for the warm reception and the opportunity to deliberate on critical developmental matters affecting football in the region. He emphasized that meaningful progress in the sport depends heavily on strong partnerships between the Football Association and local government authorities.

According to the GFA President, sustainable football development, particularly at the grassroots and youth levels,  requires coordinated planning, shared responsibility, and sustained institutional support. He stressed that local assemblies and traditional authorities play a pivotal role in creating an enabling environment for young talents to thrive.

A major highlight of the discussions was the urgent need to address infrastructure deficits within the region. President Simeon-Okraku pointed to the limited availability of quality playing surfaces and essential football facilities as a significant barrier to talent identification and development.

He therefore appealed to the Mayor to leverage his office to champion improvements in sporting infrastructure, noting that modern and accessible facilities are not only vital for nurturing talent but also serve as instruments of hope, discipline, and opportunity for young people across the Northern Region.

The engagement in Tamale follows similar high-level meetings with key stakeholders in the Upper West and Upper East Regions, underscoring the GFA’s commitment to regional collaboration and inclusive governance as part of its comprehensive Northern tour.

President Simeon-Okraku was accompanied by Chairman of the Northern Regional Football Association, Alhaji Abu-Hassan Rhyzo; Chief of Staff, Michael Osekre; GFA Regional Football Coordinator, Daseebre Adu Asare; President of Dreams FC, Jiji Alifoe Mohammed; and Senior Communications Manager at the Office of the President, Patrick Akoto.

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