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The maiden Refugee Football Scouting Tournament has successfully concluded with 17 players identified for structured training and future opportunities in Ghana’s Division One and Premier League, following a day of competitive matches and mentorship at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
The tournament organised by the Amahoro Coalition – A leading convener of African private sector leaders for social impact, and Samaritan Group – a Ghanaian-owned private-sector entity focused on social impact and community development was designed to provide refugee youth with a pathway into professional football, while also advancing social and economic integration.
Competition took place across two age categories: an under-12 exhibition match and a 15-to-23-year-old cohort who played in a full 90-minute fixture.
From the older group, 30 participants advanced to a final round of assessment, which concluded with the selection of 17 players for further grooming.
The event drew an impressive lineup of dignitaries from the football and coaching fraternity, who were present to inspire and motivate participants. Notable figures included:
Kwadwo Asamoah, Former Juventus & Inter Milan midfielder, Emmanuel Agyeman Badu, Former Ghana Black Stars & Udinese Calcio midfielder, Fatau Dauda, Former Orlando Pirates player & current Goalkeepers Coach of the Ghana National Team, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, Head Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Abdul Gazale, Assistant Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Najahu Issah, Goalkeepers Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Nana Yaw Amponsah, President of CSF Spartanii-Sportul, David Obeng Nyarko, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsports LLC, Gideon Fosu, Executive Committee Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
Veronica Commey, Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority. They spoke candidly about their own professional journeys and urged the players to pursue discipline and resilience alongside their sporting talent. Their presence underscored the event’s message that football can be a vehicle for personal transformation.
Curator of the Amahoro Coalition, Isaac Fokuo Jr, said the initiative was conceived to use football as a platform for empowerment.
“Refugees just like other young African men and women aspire like everybody else. In places like Ghana, hospitality is a core value. It is our duty as Africans to ensure that all young people have opportunities as they grow,” he said.
Mr. Fokuo noted that Africa currently accounts for close to one-third of the world’s refugees, a proportion that has risen sharply in the past decade, making interventions of this kind urgent.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 80 per cent of young refugees globally see sport, particularly football, as a leading avenue for inclusion, skills development, and livelihood opportunities.
The organisers said this makes tournaments such as the one held in Accra not only symbolic but practical in creating new prospects.
Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board, Tetteh Padi, said the collaboration reflected his agency’s broader commitment to improving refugee livelihoods.
“Giving these young talents a documented opportunity here in Ghana and potentially abroad can contribute not only to their livelihoods but also to the broader development of our communities,” he said.
Chief Executive of the Samaritan Group, Nana Yaw Amponsah, emphasised the social dimension of sport.
“The idea of this partnership is to give these young people one opportunity to take them off the streets, because sport plays a critical role in channeling their energy positively,” he said.
For many of the participants, the day was as much about recognition as opportunity.
“This chance means everything to me. I want to prove that being a refugee does not define my future. I want to play for Ghana one day,” Peter Hayes, an 18-year-old who was among the players selected for the next stage, said.
An Executive Committee Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Gideon Fosu, commended the initiative, describing football as a medium with both economic and social potential.
“Football goes everywhere you can find football, and we must make meaning out of it,” he said
The 17 selected players will now undergo structured training and mentorship programmes, supported by technical experts and scouts, with opportunities to pursue careers in Ghanaian clubs and, in time, international leagues.
Organisers stressed that long-term ambition is not limited to producing professional athletes, but to building pathways that enable displaced youth to contribute meaningfully to society.
The event was sponsored by Sports King and Challenges Ghana.
About the Amahoro Coalition
Amahoro Coalition is the leading convener of African private sector leaders for social impact. Amahoro provides tailored solutions to the private sector, enabling them to tap into the African demographic dividend, particularly vulnerable settings like displaced communities. Amahoro supports the youth of Africa, including those in displaced communities, through strategic connections with the private sector to co-create breakthrough opportunities for all.
About the Ghana Refugee Board
The Ghana Refugee Board is the statutory body mandated to manage refugee affairs in Ghana, ensuring protection, welfare, and integration of refugees in partnership with international and local stakeholders.
About the Samaritan Group
The Samaritan Group is a Ghanaian-owned private-sector entity focused on social impact and community development. It leverages partnerships in education, health, and sport to support vulnerable groups and create inclusive opportunities.
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