The Ghana American Football Federation (GAFF) has secured formal backing from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to expand the sport into government schools, with both parties agreeing to establish a dedicated liaison to drive coordination and raise the profile of the game nationally.
A delegation led by GAFF President Larry Wahab met senior ministry officials in Accra to present plans for youth training camps, inter-club competitions and a structured rollout of American football in district-level schools, with a particular focus on underserved communities.
“Over the past few years, we have seen a remarkable rise in participation and the formation of local clubs across the country,” Wahab said. “Our goal is to harness this momentum to promote discipline, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles through American football.”
Chief Director of the Ministry Wilhelmina Asamoah welcomed the approach and confirmed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate on capacity-building programmes. She said the ministry would also coordinate with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Local Government to facilitate school-based implementation, making clear that the initiative is intended as a cross-sectoral effort rather than a standalone sports programme.
The ministry’s designation of a liaison officer to work directly with GAFF marks a practical step toward institutionalising coordination, an arrangement that both sides said would be essential to translating grassroots interest into structured competitive pathways.
The engagement comes as American football builds broader momentum in Ghana. The National Football League (NFL), in partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), held a four-day flag football development clinic at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium in Accra from March 27 to 30, bringing together coaches and educators from 12 African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya and South Africa. NFL International Flag Football Development Manager Afia Law described Ghana as an emerging hub for the sport, noting that its teachers, coaches and schools were helping to spread the game across the continent.
Flag football is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, a development that has accelerated interest among sports administrators across Africa. GAFF, which operates under the International Federation of American Football and has recognition from the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority and the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, started as the American Football Federation Ghana in 2017 before being renamed in 2021. The federation has divided Ghana into four operational zones with its central hub in Accra.
American football remains a minority sport in Ghana, where association football dominates, but youth interest has been growing steadily. GAFF’s ability to combine international support from the NFL and IFAF ecosystem with direct ministerial backing positions the federation to accelerate that growth through structured school programmes in the coming months.
