In a significant move to bolster the football ecosystem in Ghana, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand the association’s bus acquisition strategy.

The announcement came during a ceremony at the Accra Sports Stadium, where nine Division One League clubs received buses as part of the merit awards scheme. This initiative, aimed at addressing the transportation challenges faced by clubs, marked the fulfillment of a promise made during the 2023 GFA Congress in Kumasi.

“Sometime back in July 2023, during our Congress in Kumasi, I spoke about an identified need in the football ecosystem. One of the things I spoke about was the lack of transport for our clubs, leading to the inability of our players to travel in comfort. Today, we’re here to see the fulfillment of that singular promise by the Executive Council of the Football Association,” Okraku stated.

The nine beneficiary clubs—Basake Holy Stars, Young Apostles, Vision FC, New Edubiase, Okwahu United, Techiman Heroes, Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs, Hohoe United, and Victory Club Warriors—received buses funded by increased revenue generated through collaborative efforts.

Okraku also emphasized that this initiative is not a one-time effort. Plans are underway to extend the program to additional clubs in the coming season, with details to be revealed soon. Furthermore, four Women’s Premier League clubs are set to benefit in the coming days.

“One of the fundamental needs of our clubs is transportation, and we are determined to help address these challenges,” he added.

Club representatives expressed their gratitude during the ceremony. Gideon Bekoe from Techiman Heroes praised the initiative, while Nana Kwame Dankwa from Okwahu United described it as a game-changer for clubs at the grassroots level.

This innovative strategy underscores the GFA’s commitment to improving the infrastructure and operational capabilities of football clubs across the country.