Gifty Oware Mensah advocates for parental support in girls’ football participation

Dr Gifty Oware Mensah, Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association, is encouraging parents to allow their daughters to play football and pursue their dreams, emphasizing that the sport is for everyone, regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity.

Speaking at the FIFA Women’s Football campaign at Opoku Ware School in Kumasi, Dr Oware Mensah reflected on the progress women’s football has made in Ghana.

“I think we have come a long way as people, especially in Ghana where we have seen great women play football and still achieve a lot,” she said.

She urged parents to appreciate that football is not just for men or specific ethnic and religious groups. “Football is for all of us, no matter where the child comes from the child can still play football whether in the hijab, in a long dress anything that the child wears,” she added.

Dr Oware Mensah also stressed the importance of supporting girls in the sports industry, drawing from her own experiences. “It’s about making sure the woman has space in the sports industry just as we’ve been able to,” she said.

The FIFA Women’s Football campaign seeks to boost girls’ participation in football at the grassroots level and promote the Women’s Football Strategy of the Ghana Football Association.