Aflao, Volta Region — September 02 2026
Mr Felix Akonta Akakpo, Youth and Development Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, has announced plans to provide football equipment to 100 basic schools in the Ketu South Municipality as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots sports development and create opportunities for young talents.
Under the initiative, scheduled for October 2026, each beneficiary school will receive three sets of football jerseys and three footballs, translating into a total of 300 sets of jerseys and 300 footballs.
Mr Akakpo said the initiative was aimed at strengthening the foundation of sports development at the basic school level while easing the challenges schools face in providing pupils with the necessary sporting equipment.
“Grassroots sports development at the basic school level remains the essential foundation for discovering raw talent, promoting physical well-being, and instilling lifelong values of discipline, teamwork and resilience,” he said.
He said although he had previously supported disciplines including handball, basketball, volleyball and athletics at both the basic and senior high school levels, football remained a major avenue for youth development in Ghana. According to him, the popularity and economic significance of football made sustained investment in the development of young players important.
“Football remains the heartbeat of our nation and contributes significantly to national economies across the world, with Ghana being no exception. This underscores the importance of private-sector partnerships and support from non-governmental organisations through the provision of equipment, sponsorship and structured youth development programmes,” he said.
Mr Akakpo also called for complementary efforts by government and local authorities to improve sports infrastructure, increase funding and strengthen administrative structures for grassroots sports development.
The equipment will support the schools’ football teams, including the Boys Under-13, Girls Under-15 and Boys Under-15 categories.
Addressing Equipment Challenges in Ketu South Schools
Records show that some basic schools continued to face difficulties in securing suitable sporting equipment for school competitions, festivals and other co-curricular activities, a situation that limits pupils’ participation in sports and make it difficult for promising young talents in Ketu South to develop their abilities.
He said the initiative was therefore intended to help address the equipment gap while complementing his ongoing investment in sports infrastructure within the municipality.
A formal handover ceremony is expected to be held later in this month, with beneficiary school heads, sports prefects and officials of the Ketu South Municipal Education Directorate expected to attend.
Mr Akakpo said the involvement of education authorities would facilitate the official and transparent distribution of the equipment to the beneficiary schools.
He urged individuals, organisations and other stakeholders to contribute to community development and complement government efforts.
“I firmly believe that many of our basic community challenges can be resolved through our own collective efforts. I therefore encourage all of us to unite to change the narrative while we await complementary support from government,” he said.
Support ahead of 2027 Inter-District Sports Festival
The initiative comes as Ketu South prepares to host the 56th Inter-District Sports Festival in 2027, which is expected to bring together basic school athletes from across the Volta Region.
Mr Akakpo said the provision of football equipment would help schools in the municipality prepare adequately for the festival by giving pupils access to the basic tools required for training and competition.
He said the initiative formed part of a broader commitment to developing sustainable sports infrastructure and creating an environment in which young people could discover and nurture their talents.
Broader Sports Investment
Mr Akakpo, also known by his traditional name, Torgbui Tenuvi II, has undertaken several sports and youth development initiatives within the Aflao Traditional Area and the wider Ketu South Municipality. He is currently supporting the development of a modern astroturf at Avoeme Park, as well as a sports complex at the Lente Wute School Park.
He also recently made cash and sports equipment donations to the Ketu South team that participated in the Basic Schools Inter-District Sports Festival held at Akatsi.
The latest intervention is expected to complement these infrastructure investments by ensuring that schools have basic sporting equipment to support training, competition and talent development among pupils.
Below is a full list of beneficiary schools
