Talent Without Opportunity: The Uneven Access to Football Development in Ghana
By Eliakem Anani BACS25259 Under the scorching sun in a dusty open field in the Northern Region of Ghana, a group of boys chase after a half-deflated ball. Their jerseys are mismatched, their boots worn out, and the makeshift goalposts are crafted from crooked tree branches. Their passion is evident. Their talent? Raw and untamed. But their chances of ever stepping into a structured football academy or being scouted by a licensed agent are slim to none. While Ghana has earned a reputation as a football powerhouse in Africa, boasting national heroes like Abedi Pele, Michael Essien, and Thomas Partey, the path to professional success remains painfully unequal. Beneath the glory of the Black Stars’ international appearances lies a broken system that denies thousands of gifted youngsters access to basic developmental opportunities simply because of where they live or the financial status of their families. A System Stacked Against the Underserved Juvenile football, once thriving through co...