The Greater Accra Regional Football Association (GARFA) today met with officials from the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) to discuss strategies for enhancing the development of football at the grassroots level in Ghana.
GARFA’s delegation included Chairman Samuel Aboabire, Vice Chairman Godwin Gabriel Kwao, and several Executive Council members. GHALCA was represented by Chairman John Ansah, Vice Chairman Phyllis Marku Monka, and other ExCo members.
The focus of the meeting was to explore ways to integrate lower division clubs into GHALCA’s activities, ensuring their development and inclusion in the broader football landscape. Chairman Aboabire expressed his hope that GHALCA could extend its support to the lower league clubs, similar to the initiatives currently available to the top-tier clubs. He stressed the importance of creating competitions for these clubs, saying, “GHALCA is the welfare body for all clubs, and I struggle to understand why our lower league clubs have not benefitted from its activities. We are eager to collaborate with you to get our clubs more involved in GHALCA’s initiatives.”
Aboabire also pledged GARFA’s full support for GHALCA’s efforts and expressed optimism that such meetings would continue on a regular basis to strengthen football at the grassroots.
GHALCA Chairman John Ansah thanked GARFA for their commitment to grassroots development and outlined the association’s plans to engage more closely with Regional Football Associations (RFAs) to bring GHALCA’s services to all its members. “In the past, GHALCA has been somewhat distanced from the clubs and less involved in the development of lower league teams,” Ansah acknowledged. “In addition to our traditional competitions like the Top 4, President’s Cup, and First Lady’s Cup, we are planning to introduce tournaments specifically for the lower league clubs.”
He emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue between GHALCA and the RFAs to better support lower league clubs and promote football throughout the country. Ansah also highlighted the need for collaborative efforts in fundraising to sustain these initiatives.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening grassroots football and making the sport more popular in Ghana through consistent engagement and mutual support.