Ghana’s annual President’s Cup, traditionally contested by two top professional clubs, is set for a major change as officials push to strengthen grassroots football.
Football development has become a deliberate pursuit for nations seeking to elevate their game. For Ghana, which prides itself as a continental powerhouse, the government says the next generation of stars must be discovered at the community level.
Member of Parliament for Buem, Kofi Adams, said the government is committed to building a strong foundation for sports.
“As a government, we believe strongly in grassroots sports. Under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, our focus is on building a strong foundation for sports starting from the community level,” he said.
The Sports Minister added that the Cup’s format will likely be decentralised, beginning at the district level. The plan is to give young players the chance to compete and advance Mahama’s vision of grassroots development.
“Very soon, the President’s Cup, which we usually witness being played between two top teams at the professional level, will be changing. We would bring the President’s Cup right to the community level, where competitions will happen among young people, and it will progress all the way to the national level because grassroots sports are what matters. We need to bring back the days of the Colts,” he said during the launch of the Let the Kids Play and 22/25 Sports Agency initiative.
The announcement is likely to be welcomed by advocates of grassroots football, who have long criticised the decline of the Colts league system.
Adams has continued to push for structured youth training, infrastructure support, and talent identification. The message, he said, is clear: the next Abedi Pele or Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah will be discovered and nurtured at home.
