GFA boss Kurt Okraku appeals for free government astroturfs for over 1,000 Colts clubs

[caption id="attachment_1330552" align="alignnone" width="783"] Kurt Okraku[/caption]Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has appealed to the government to allow Colts clubs across the country to use government-owned astroturf facilities for free.Okraku made the appeal on Tuesday at the launch of the 2026/27 Colts Football League season, as he highlighted the challenges facing grassroots football clubs in securing suitable pitches.According to the GFA President, Ghana currently has a little over 1,000 Colts clubs, but many are struggling to find places to play their matches.Today, we have a little over a thousand Colts clubs across the country. Our Colts clubs cannot find pitches to play on, Okraku said.He explained that many of the traditional community pitches used for Colts football have been lost to private developments and investment.The pitches that we used to play on, the pitches that I used to play Colts on have been taken over by investors, he added.Okraku acknowledged the investment made by both the government and private individuals in constructing astroturf facilities across the country, but called for government-owned pitches to be made accessible to Colts clubs at no cost.By the grace of God, we've some investment in the construction of astroturfs across the country by private individuals and by governments. Now, my appeal is simple. Let us make the government-owned astroturfs available for free to our Colts clubs, he said.The GFA President said the cost of hiring pitches has become a major burden for Colts club owners, who can pay between GH500 and GH1,500 for a 90-minute game.At the moment, Colts club owners are struggling. You want to play a 90-minute game on a pitch, and you have to pay between GH500 and GH1,500, Okraku said.Our appeal is very simple. We appreciate the investment in the construction of the astroturf, but we want to use those facilities for our Colts clubs for free.Okraku believes government support in this area would help reduce the financial burden on clubs and make it easier for young players to participate in organised football.He also expressed confidence that President John Dramani Mahama would consider the request, given his renewed interest in grassroots football and the revival of the Colts League.I'm very sure that President Mahama, given his interests in football and in Colts football, will grant this request and make sure that our young boys and girls have free access to the government-owned Astro pitches across the country, he said.The appeal comes as the GFA begins a new season of Colts football, with the association seeking to strengthen the grassroots system and restore the competition as a key pathway for developing young players in Ghana.