Ghana’s youth football landscape is set for a major transformation with the official launch of the BVB International Academy Ghana, the first African academy established by German football giants Borussia Dortmund. The initiative marks a significant milestone in grassroots football development and is expected to introduce a new standard of professionalism, structure, and long-term planning to youth football in the country.
The historic launch is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, in Accra, and has already received strong endorsement from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation. The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams, has publicly praised the academy’s development model, linking it to government efforts aimed at improving governance, regulation, and quality control within Ghana’s sports ecosystem.
Activities for the launch will run throughout the day, beginning with an Official Launch and Breakfast Reception at Kwae Terrace in Accra at 8:00 a.m. The event will bring together football administrators, policymakers, development partners, coaches, parents, and invited stakeholders. Organisers say the session will outline the academy’s vision, operational framework, and long-term objectives for youth football development in Ghana.
Following the official launch, attention will shift to the pitch with the BVB Experience Camp, a youth coaching clinic scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Achimota Secondary School football field. The clinic will be led by Florian Ingwersen, Head of Football Academy, and Michael Rutten, Head of Coaching, both representing Borussia Dortmund’s international academy system. The session is expected to expose young Ghanaian players to elite European training methods while also offering local coaches insight into modern coaching techniques and player development principles.
The launch activities will conclude with a public BVB Watch Party at Pitstop in Labone at 2:30 p.m., where fans will gather to watch Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg. Beyond entertainment, organisers say the watch party is intended to build a strong community around the academy and deepen the connection between Ghanaian football fans and the Borussia Dortmund brand.
According to information from the academy’s press kit, the establishment of BVB International Academy Ghana is the result of years of groundwork and strategic engagement. The origins of the project can be traced back to pre-pandemic conversations between Shooting Stars FC founder Isaac Ansah and representatives of Borussia Dortmund. These early discussions later evolved into structured player training opportunities in Germany, as well as the landmark BVB Legends Tour in Ghana in 2022, which further strengthened ties between the German club and Ghana’s football community.
Operating from branded training pitches at Achimota School, the academy will offer a holistic football development programme for boys and girls aged six to 18. The structure is built around a dual-pathway system, catering to both elite players aiming for professional careers and recreational players seeking structured football development alongside education. This approach is designed to ensure inclusivity while maintaining high performance standards.
A key pillar of the academy’s philosophy is community access. The academy has committed to reserving 20 percent of its intake for scholarship placements, targeting talented but underprivileged players who may otherwise lack access to quality football training. Officials say this model reflects Borussia Dortmund’s broader social responsibility values and aligns with Ghana’s youth development priorities.
Ahead of the launch, a delegation from BVB International Academy Ghana met with the Minister for Sports and Recreation. The delegation was led by Academy Director Teddy Hiadzi and included Sporting Director Marc Schweinshaupt, Public Relations Manager Eli Kondoh, and Academy Administrator Akumaki Ablakwa. The meeting focused on aligning the academy’s operations with national sports development policies and regulatory expectations.
During the meeting, the Minister commended the academy’s socially driven framework, particularly its emphasis on CSR-funded scholarships, equal access for boys and girls, and early developmental coaching starting from age six. He described the project as a model that other sports academies in the country could learn from.
The Minister also used the occasion to announce a broader regulatory push, stating that the National Sports Authority will soon intensify monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure that all sports academies operating in Ghana adhere to established standards. He stressed the need for transparency, proper coaching certification, child protection safeguards, and structured development pathways across the sports sector.
Additionally, the Minister encouraged the academy to consider the development of a residential facility in the future to enable the identification and nurturing of talent from across the country, particularly from regions outside Accra.
In a statement, the academy expressed pride in receiving support from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, describing the endorsement as a strong validation of its mission. The academy stated that its goal is to blend Borussia Dortmund’s global football standards with a strong Ghanaian identity, creating a trusted and structured pathway for the next generation of Ghanaian footballers.
The launch of BVB International Academy Ghana represents more than the opening of a football school. It signals a shift towards long-term planning, accountability, and inclusivity in youth football development, at a time when Ghana continues to search for sustainable solutions to nurture talent from the grassroots to the elite level.
As activities kick off this weekend, stakeholders across the football community will be watching closely to see how the academy delivers on its promise to redefine youth football development in Ghana.
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