President of the Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has delivered a candid and passionate call to action to participants of the CAF Licence A Coaching Course, urging them to seize the rare opportunity to elevate coaching standards and transform Ghanaian football.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the intensive 10-day programme at the Ghana Football Association Technical Centre in Prampram on Thursday, the GFA President did not mince words in addressing what he described as the pressing need for improvement in coaching across the country.

“Coaching in Ghana is very poor. I have never been happy and have made my views known. Coaching standards have been poor, and I really mean it. It's the reason we pushed to get where we are and want us to improve,” he stated firmly.

A historic opportunity since 2017

The course, being held for the first time since 2017, marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s technical development drive. As 2nd Vice-President of CAF, President Simeon-Okraku underscored the importance of the moment, describing the cohort as a privileged and historic group entrusted with changing the narrative.

“When I say standards have not been good, it doesn't mean there are no good coaches in Ghana,” he clarified. “You should count yourself blessed for being part of this historic group. You have an opportunity to make our football attractive at both the youth and top levels.”

The CAF Licence A is one of the Confederation’s highest coaching qualifications and serves as a critical benchmark for coaches aspiring to work at top-flight clubs and within national team structures.

Investing in capacity building

Highlighting the GFA’s deliberate investment in coach education, the President revealed a series of initiatives undertaken to enhance technical capacity nationwide.

“Since we got the opportunity to serve, I have given coaches every opportunity that I can find by enhancing their capacity through education,” he said.

From offering free tuition at the grassroots level,  including targeted support for female coaches, to sponsoring attachments for coaches in England and Germany, the GFA’s strategy has been anchored on knowledge acquisition and global exposure as catalysts for long-term improvement.

End culture of sabotage

In one of the most striking moments of his address, President Simeon-Okraku admonished coaches to abandon destructive professional rivalries.

“You must stop sabotaging your colleagues because it will not take you anywhere. A coach takes over a club from a colleague and the first thing they do is to rubbish everything their predecessor has done. This is not proper and won’t help you.” he cautioned.

He urged participants to embrace professionalism, continuity and collaboration as essential values in building a sustainable football ecosystem.

Intensive, Elite programme

The CAF Licence A Coaching Course commenced on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

The rigorous 10-day programme has attracted the first batch of 20 elite coaches from across the continent. Participants are undergoing comprehensive theoretical and practical sessions covering modern tactical principles, player development, performance analysis, leadership and match preparation.

Under the new CAF Coaching Convention framework, the Licence A programme has been restructured into four comprehensive modules designed to ensure depth, rigour and practical competence.

Each module consists of an intensive 10-day in-person engagement, combining detailed theoretical instruction with hands-on practical sessions.

In between each module, participants are required to undertake a compulsory 30-day internship with their respective clubs. This structured attachment period is intended to reinforce classroom learning through real-world application, enabling coaches to implement tactical concepts, player development strategies and performance analysis methodologies within their working environments.

At the conclusion of Module Four, candidates will undergo both practical and theoretical assessments. Only those who successfully meet the required standards in both components will be awarded the prestigious CAF Licence A certification.

GFA Communications