Refugee Football Tournament Taps New Talent, Strengthens Ghana’s Sporting Economy
Ghana’s football industry has received a new injection of talent after 17 refugee players were selected for structured training and potential careers in the nation’s Division One and Premier League.
The players emerged from the maiden Refugee Football Scouting Tournament, hosted at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, an event spearheaded by the Amahoro Coalition and Samaritan Group.
Beyond the competition, the initiative demonstrated how sport can serve as a tool for economic integration, transforming refugee youth into active participants in Ghana’s fast-growing football ecosystem. Organisers said the aim is not just to nurture professional athletes, but also to unlock new pathways for social stability and long-term community development.
The tournament featured two categories — an under-12 exhibition and a 15-to-23-year-old group, from which 30 advanced for final assessment, culminating in the selection of 17.
Football icons such as Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, and Fatau Dauda, alongside top coaches and executives, attended to mentor participants, underscoring the strong links between professional football and youth opportunity.
“Sport is a business as much as it is a passion. Creating documented opportunities for refugees here in Ghana contributes directly to our communities and our economy,” said Tetteh Padi, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board.
Organisers noted that with Africa hosting nearly one-third of the world’s refugees, the private sector’s role in creating structured opportunities is critical. The 17 selected players will now undergo mentorship and grooming, with scouts expected to link them to clubs locally and abroad.
For Ghana, the move strengthens its reputation as a talent hub for football exports, a sector that generates transfer fees, jobs, sponsorships, and business activity across the sports value chain.
“This is not just a win for the players but a blueprint for how sport can merge social impact with sustainable business opportunities,” said Isaac Fokuo Jr, Curator of the Amahoro Coalition.
With support from sponsors Sports King and Challenges Ghana, the tournament highlighted how targeted investment in refugee youth can deliver both social returns and economic dividends, aligning with Ghana’s vision of inclusive growth.
