GFA safeguarding operation supports player welfare at 2026 MTN Elite U-19 Championship

The Football Association (GFA) successfully maintained safeguarding oversight throughout the 2026 MTN Elite U-19 Boys Championship, with the safety, wellbeing and protection of young players placed at the centre of the competition.

The tournament was held at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence (GSCE) in Prampram, where the GFA put measures in place before the event to identify and manage potential risks affecting participating players.

A pre-competition safeguarding risk assessment examined a range of issues connected with the championship. These included player safety and welfare, access to medical support, emergency response arrangements and the wider safeguarding environment in which the competition took place.

The assessment was intended to ensure that potential concerns were recognised in advance and that suitable steps were established to reduce the risks faced by the young players during the tournament.

As part of the preparations, players also took part in safeguarding education sessions. Those sessions addressed some of the dangers young footballers can encounter, including abuse, exploitation and player trafficking.

The players were encouraged to stay alert to possible risks and to make informed decisions in situations that could affect their safety or welfare. They were also told to report concerns through the appropriate channels rather than keeping them to themselves.

The education programme highlighted the importance of seeking help from trusted adults and designated safeguarding personnel whenever players encountered circumstances that might place their safety or wellbeing at risk.

Safeguarding remained an ongoing priority during the championship, rather than being limited to the preparation phase. The GFA continued to focus on player welfare across the competition, including during matches and training activities.

Particular attention was given to players who suffered injuries. Injured players were monitored to make sure they received the medical attention required and were provided with appropriate follow-up care.

The approach combined preventative education with practical support, allowing the GFA to address both potential safeguarding threats and the immediate welfare needs of players taking part in the tournament.

The MTN Elite U-19 Championship concluded on Friday, with Ashanti Region finishing as winners.

The GFA’s safeguarding oversight formed part of the competition’s overall delivery at the GSCE, with the association seeking to ensure that player protection remained a key consideration from the pre-tournament planning stage through to the conclusion of the championship.

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