Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have officially launched the BVB International Academy Ghana, marking the club’s first international academy on the African continent.
The launch ceremony took place at the Kwae Terrace in Accra on Saturday, February 7, 2026, officially signalling the start of the academy’s operations.
The event attracted a cross-section of football stakeholders, including officials from Borussia Dortmund, former Ghana internationals, media personalities, and football enthusiasts.
The academy has been established in partnership with Accra Shooting Stars FC.
It operates on a pay-to-play model, while also offering scholarships for needy but talented players aged between 6 and 18.
Director of the Borussia Dortmund International Academy in Ghana, Teddy Hiadzi, disclosed that parents will pay between €1,500 and €2,500 per season to enrol their children.
In a statement, the BVB International Academy Ghana said players will undergo the internationally recognised BVB training methodology, with a strong focus on discipline, leadership, education, nutrition, and personal development, while remaining deeply connected to Ghana’s football culture.
Benedikt Scholz, Director of Internationalisation and Commercial Partnerships and Managing Director of the BVB Football Academy, described the launch as a significant step in a market with long-standing ties to the club through former players such as Otto Addo and Ibrahim Tanko.
He noted that BVB, together with its local partners, aims to build sustainable structures for the long-term development of young footballers.
🎥 “This is a Pay to Play Academy unlike the traditional ones where you go in based on merit or trial. Here the parents make investment on the child which allows us to equip it.”- Teddy Hiadzi, Academy Director (BVB international Academy – Ghana🇬🇭)#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/UGusaZiYzz
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) February 7, 2026
Academy Director Teddy Hiadzi further emphasised the inclusive nature of the project, stating that every child’s football journey is different, whether recreational or elite, and that the academy’s objective is to provide quality coaching, structure, and a safe environment for growth both on and off the pitch.
🎥 Highlights from the BVB International Academy Ghana 🇬🇭 players’ training session at Achimota School Park.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/L3Lb9yeyiC
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) February 7, 2026
Former Borussia Dortmund and Black Stars legend Ibrahim Tanko, who serves as Ambassador of the BVB International Academy Ghana, described the initiative as special, highlighting Ghana’s immense talent and passion for football and the academy’s role in instilling the mindset and discipline required for success.
German Ambassador to Ghana, Frederik Landshöft, underscored the broader significance of the project, noting that the academy goes beyond football by fostering connection, dreams, and cultural exchange.
He described football as a universal language that transcends borders and builds friendships, adding that initiatives like the academy serve as a powerful tool of cultural diplomacy.
Following the launch, Florian Ingwersen, Head of the BVB Football Academy, and Michael Rütten, Academy Head of Coaching, led a coaching clinic for about 40 children at Achimota School, the academy’s base.
The series of activities concluded with a viewing party for Borussia Dortmund’s 2–1 victory over Wolfsburg at Pitstop in Labone.
