BVB International Academy Ghana To Be Launch As Borussia Dortmund’s First African Youth Football Academy

Published by: Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah

Ghana’s youth football ecosystem is poised for a major boost with the official launch this weekend of the BVB International Academy Ghana, the first African academy established by German football giants Borussia Dortmund.

The historic launch is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, and has received strong endorsement from the Minister for Sports and Recreation, who has linked the initiative to the government’s broader agenda of raising standards across sports development in the country.

The launch activities will span the entire day, beginning with an Official Launch and Breakfast Reception at Kwae Terrace, Accra, at 8:00 a.m. This will be followed by a BVB Experience Camp at the Achimota Secondary School football field from 10:00 a.m., featuring a youth clinic led by Florian Ingwersen, Head of Football Academy, and Michael Rutten, Head of Coaching. The day will conclude with a public BVB Watch Party for Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga fixture against Wolfsburg at Pitstop, Labone, at 2:30 p.m.

According to the academy’s press kit, the establishment of BVB International Academy Ghana is the result of years of sustained engagement. Its origins date back to pre-pandemic discussions between Isaac Ansah, founder of Shooting Stars FC, and representatives of Borussia Dortmund. The partnership evolved through player development programs in Germany and was strengthened by the BVB Legends Tour of Ghana in 2022.

Operating from branded pitches at Achimota School, the academy offers a holistic development programme for boys and girls aged 6 to 18, built on a dual-pathway model that supports both elite and recreational players. A key pillar of the academy’s philosophy is inclusivity, with 20 percent of its intake reserved for scholarship opportunities targeting talented but underprivileged children.

Ahead of the launch, a delegation from BVB International Academy Ghana—led by Academy Director Teddy Hiadzi, Sporting Director Marc Schweinshaupt, Public Relations Manager Eli Kondoh, and Academy Administrator Akumaki Ablakwa—paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams.

During the meeting, the Minister praised the academy’s socially driven model, highlighting its CSR-led scholarship scheme, equal access for girls and boys, and early-stage developmental coaching starting from age six. He described the initiative as aligning strongly with national objectives for structured and ethical sports development.

Hon. Adams also used the occasion to announce an upcoming regulatory drive, noting that the National Sports Authority would soon commence monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure all sports academies in Ghana comply with established standards. He further encouraged the academy to explore the development of a residential facility to attract and nurture talent from across the country.

In a statement, the academy said it was “proud to have the support of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation as we work to redefine youth football development in Ghana.”

The launch of BVB International Academy Ghana marks a significant milestone in efforts to merge Borussia Dortmund’s global football standards with a strong Ghanaian identity, providing a trusted and structured pathway for the next generation of Ghanaian footballers.

Source : Graphic Online