Sports
GFA Foundation commemorates World Blood Donor day with Blood Donation Exercise
The GFA Foundation has organized a Blood Donation exercise to celebrate World Blood Donor Day.
The life-saving exercise, which was held at the Home of Football (GFA Head Office), was in partnership with the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) to stock its blood bank with safe and efficacious blood and blood products.
The event was graced by the General Secretary of the Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo and two Deputies, Ama Brobbey Williams and Mr. Alex Asante.
Members of Supporters’ Unions, Club officials, students, staff of the GFA and its corporate neighbours, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, a section of the general public and the media checked their relevant vitals and donated blood.
The Blood Donation campaign manifests the GFA Foundation’s mission of positively impacting the lives of people through support for national and international development initiatives and goals.
This year’s edition was dubbed the “2nd Pint” because this is the second time the GFA was celebrating the International Day with a Blood Donation drive. The first edition was celebrated last year along with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
Since 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO), its partners and communities across the world, have celebrated 14th June as the World Blood Donor Day and this year, the celebration was under the theme “20 years of celebrating giving: Thank you, blood donors”.
The Director of the GFA Foundation, Malcolm Frazier Appeadu, indicated that the annual lifesaving campaign was the Football Association’s contribution to developing a safe, adequate and readily available blood service in Ghana.
“The blood donation exercise is a way to manifest to Ghanaians that indeed we care about the communities and truly the GFA CARES,” he added.
A Senior Medical Officer of Public Health at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe said blood was very vital in the treatment of jaundice in newborns, complications during pregnancy and childbirth, severe anemia in children etc. “I thank the GFA and all stakeholders for their support for the Greater Accra Regional Hospital,”he went on to say.
Donors, after the donation exercise, received donor cards and other souvenirs from the Ghana Football Association and the medical team from the Accra Regional Hospital.
The Blood Donation Campaign has become a permanent feature on the calendar of the GFA Foundation.
Sports
Black Starlets arrives in Morocco on U-17 AFCON mission …FA boss charges team to make Ghana proud
The Black Starlets, the national U-17 male team, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team departed Accra on Wednesday, travelling with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.
They completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.
The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, was present at the Accra International Airport to bid farewell to the team.
Speaking during a brief farewell at the Airport, the FA President urged the team to carry a ‘never say die’ spirit into the competition.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the importance of mental strength and unity, particularly in difficult moments during matches. His message was inspired by the team’s recent friendly encounters against Cote d’Ivoire, where they bounced back strongly after an initial defeat.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Cote d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to bounce back—not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said. “I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads—that, it’s not over until it’s all over,” he added.
The FA president stressed that the ability to respond positively to setbacks would be crucial in a tournament as competitive as the AFCON.
He encouraged the players to stay united and support one another when the pressure intensifies on the continental stage.
“When the chips are down, that’s when we need to hold each other together,” Okraku added. “So go out there and make Ghana proud.”
Ghana will compete in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, with their opening match scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
Twenty-three (23) players have been called up for this month’s international friendly against Mexico.
The squad is composed of star players from the domestic league and European leagues who are closely monitored by Coach Carlos Queiroz, as well as U-23 players who will soon represent Ghana in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers.
Notable names include Majeed Ashimeru, Felix Afena-Gyan, Razak Simpson, and Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman.
Ashimeru returns to action after a long spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury that limited his appearances at both club and national level.
Also in the team is Felix Afena-Gyan, whose last appearance for Ghana was in May last year when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.
Barcelona B’s Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan of AS Saint-Étienne, Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City, and Paul Reverson of Ajax FC have also been included in the squad.
Midfielder Salim Adams, one of the key players for Ghana Premier League leaders Medeama SC, leads the group of home-based players.
Others are Heart of Lions’ Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade of Dreams FC, and Nations FC captain Razak Simpson. Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.
