The Ghana Football Association has been charged by Ghana’s Northern regional minister, Mustpaha Ali Idris to ensure that youth football development remains one of the association’s core business areas.

The minister who commended the FA for staging this year’s National Juvenile competition in the Northern region of Ghana has tasked the GFA to ensure that products of such competitions are groomed to take over from the present generation of players in the various national sides.

Mustpaha Ali Idris said the Northern region which has produced lots of players to the nation including Ghana legend, Abedi Ayew Pele, Mohammed Choo, Karimu ‘Star Boy” and a host of players feels proud to host the three-day long competition.

432 youth footballers drawn from 24 teams on Friday began the quest for honours and selection into the FA’s youth development program.

The competition for the under-12 and 14 age categories had two teams each representing each region with four clubs showing up for the Greater Accra region.

Mustpaha Ali Idris also tasked the FA to put in a place a program that would take of the welfare of retired national players.

According to the minister, this would serve as morale booster for the present generation to give in their best to the national course.

A host of technical coaches are in Tamale to scout for players who would be enrolled into the Football Association’s youth development programmes.

The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi says the FA’s programmes of unearthing and moulding football talents to take over from the present generation remains one of their main programmes for the Ghana football.