The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has reaffirmed the GFA’s commitment to empowering Ghana’s youth through football by forging a deeper partnership with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
Leading a delegation of Executive Council members, Mr. Simeon-Okraku paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Executive Officer of the YEA, Malik Basintale, on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, at the agency’s headquarters in Accra.
The high-level meeting focused on renewing strategic collaboration between the two institutions, particularly in areas of youth development, financial support for football clubs, and expanded employment pathways for young people through the sport.
In his address, President Simeon-Okraku highlighted the historic partnership between the two bodies, recalling how the YEA offered financial support to women’s football during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the first time, our female footballers received monthly stipends through YEA’s intervention,” he said. “It was not just support, it was a lifeline that affirmed their value and potential.”
He added that the synergy between the GFA and YEA is natural and necessary, as both institutions operate at the heart of youth development in Ghana.
“We offer employment through football, whether it’s coaching, refereeing, administration, or playing at the highest level. Our recent performance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where our Black Queens clinched bronze, is proof that football transforms lives.”
President Okraku emphasized the importance of building on that success and said the GFA is eager to explore further opportunities with the YEA that can drive tangible results for the youth.
YEA CEO Malik Basintale, in turn, welcomed the renewed engagement and expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration.
“We are determined to leave a lasting legacy, one that transforms lives. Partnering with the GFA allows us to tap into football’s power to create jobs and instil hope,” he said.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism about building a robust framework that combines the reach of football with employment schemes aimed at addressing youth unemployment nationwide.
This renewed alliance between the GFA and YEA marks a promising step toward creating more sustainable opportunities for young Ghanaians through sport.
