Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has asked the government to allow Colts clubs to use public astroturf pitches for free.
He made the appeal during the launch of the 2026/27 Colts Football League season.
Okraku said many grassroots clubs were struggling to find suitable pitches for their matches.
He also highlighted the rising cost of hiring football facilities.
Colts clubs face rising pitch costs
According to Okraku, Ghana has more than 1,000 Colts clubs.
However, many of these clubs cannot secure pitches for their games.
He said club owners now pay between GH¢500 and GH¢1,500 to hire a pitch for a 90-minute match.
“At the moment, Colts club owners are struggling,” Okraku said.
“You want to play a 90-minute game on a pitch, and you have to pay between GH¢500 and GH¢1,500.”
The GFA president also said several traditional community football grounds had been lost to private developments.
“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.
Kurt Okraku appeals for free public facilities
Ghana has invested in the construction of astroturf facilities in different parts of the country.
Private individuals and other organisations have also supported the development of such pitches.
However, Okraku believes government-owned facilities should be made available to Colts clubs without charge.
“Let us make the government-owned astroturfs available for free to our Colts clubs,” he said.
He acknowledged the investment made in building the pitches.
However, he stressed that the facilities should also serve young footballers in local communities.
“We appreciate the investment in the construction of the astroturf, but we want to use those facilities for our Colts clubs for free,” Okraku added.
Appeal comes as Colts season begins
The request comes as the GFA begins the 2026/27 Colts Football League season.
The competition is part of efforts to strengthen grassroots football and develop young talents.
The GFA has also introduced measures to reduce the financial pressure on participating clubs.
These measures include free player registration and the removal of referee fees for Colts matches.
The association has also announced plans for more youth competitions.
Okraku believes better access to football pitches will help more children take part in organised football.
He is therefore calling for government support to make grassroots football more accessible across Ghana.
Source: CitiSports
