The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has launched its social investment and sustainability management unit, the GFA Foundation, with the aim to improve lives and livelihoods of people and football communities in Ghana. The Foundation will coordinate all corporate social responsibility initiatives and charity projects for the Football Association.
The GFA Foundation will have a 5-Member Board of Trustees who will oversee operations of the Foundation headed by a Director who is in charge of the day-to-day management of the Foundation.
Mr. Daniel Awuah-Darko, an astute chartered insurer is the Chairman with Mr. Isaac Osei Yeboah, Finance and Development Manager, Asante Gold and President of Bibiani Gold Stars as the Vice Chairman. The rest of the members are Sylvia Owusu Ankomah, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo -Guinness Ghana PLC, Mr. Frederick Acheampong, GFA Executive Council Member and Ghana Football legend, former Black Stars Player and owner of Glo-Lamp Football Academy, Nii Odartey Lamptey.
The Foundation has objectives to initiate and support projects and programmes that will improve lives and livelihoods of Football people and communities. It also hopes to use Football and its outcomes to effect behavioral change and promote social change advocacy. It also seeks to improve the quality of lives of people through appropriate interventions in Ghana.
With the tagline GFA Cares, the Football governing body in Ghana has a vision to be the best “Football for Good” Association in social investments and sustainability practice.
The 5 thematic or focus areas are summarized under the CARES acronym which stands Community Development (Health & Education), Assistance to the underprivileged, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle initiatives across the Association’s operational footprints, Educate stakeholders of the game on hooliganism, fair play and integrity and most importantly, Support for welfare of ex-players and football officials.
The GFA collaborates with FIFA to undertake social interventions and which seeks to promote the game of Football and social development.
GFA will earmark a proportion of its resources both in kind and in cash towards the Foundation projects. The GFA Foundation will also partner like-minded organisations and institutions to deliver its objectives.
The Executive Council members, Committee members, staff, officials, players (active and retired), team owners, the sponsors, and partners of the GFA will contribute their resources and time to the work of the GFA Foundation.
The Ghana Football Association believes that for the ultimate goal of Football for Development (F4D) to be achieved there should be a deliberate, concerted and coordinated efforts in this regard by all stakeholders.
A rigorous internal Monitoring and Evaluation system will be used to monitor and track the impact of the projects and programmes. An external team will be engaged to conduct an impact assessment by either validating or otherwise the internal Monitoring and Evaluation results or undertaking a comprehensive exercise periodically.
Meanwhile, the GFA has appointed Mr. Malcom Frazier Appeadu, a social marketing, corporate social responsibility and corporate communications professional as the Director of the GFA Foundation. He will be in charge of the day-to-day management of the Foundation. Malcolm has over 15 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors having previously worked for the Ghana Tourism Development Company, Tigo Ghana, Rlg Foundation and MTN Ghana.
Malcolm holds a Master of Arts degree in Development Communication from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ghana. He also has a certificate in Monitoring & Evaluation from the Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration (GIMPA).
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