{
  "id": 12365463,
  "title": "Black Starlets travel ordeal: Have we failed our young talents? – Former NSA Board Chair quizzes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/black-starlets-travel-ordeal-have-we-failed-our-young-talents-former",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T10:52:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/black-starlets-travel-ordeal-have-we-failed-our-young-talents-former-nsa-board-chair-quizzes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ghanaian Black Starlets, a prestigious team, found themselves in a treacherous situation while representing their country. Their journey from Ghana to Burkina Faso for the WAFU Zone B under-17 tournament was supposed to be a smooth one, but the Kurt Okraku-led Ghana Football Association (GFA) opted for a bus journey from Prampram to Ouagadougou, covering a distance of 960km by road. This decision was met with widespread disappointment, as security challenges in such a remote trip could not be adequately addressed by the state security apparatus. The Black Starlets were already navigating the complexities of insurgency in the Sahel, with recent attacks along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border serving as a stark reminder of the dangers they faced. The GFA's decision to expose young talents to such peril was seen as a callous disregard for the boys' safety and well-being. The incident echoes the tragic events of 2010 when Togo's national team, the hawks, faced a harrowing journey through the dense forest bordering Congo Brazzaville and Cabinda, Angola, resulting in loss of life. The GFA's handling of the Black Starlets' travel arrangements raises questions about their commitment to nurturing young football talent. The association has a history of treating junior national teams with disrespect, contempt, and carelessness, often failing to provide adequate support in terms of travel, accommodation, feeding, and apparel. Since 2019, the 'Osagyefo' Kurt Okraku administration has exacerbated this pattern, leading to stagnation in player progression from junior to senior national teams. The lack of competitive leadership and a focus on personal gain has resulted in a stagnant system, with only a few players like Fatawu Issahaku breaking through. The situation calls for urgent intervention and reform to ensure that Ghana's young football talents are not subjected to dangerous and unfair circumstances, but rather given the support and opportunities they deserve to shine on the international stage.",
  "summary": "It's treacherous. It's unfathomable. No matter how anyone looks at this, it's criminal, to say the least.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "Black Starlets: Seth Panwum questions road trip to Burkina Faso",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/black-starlets-seth-panwum-questions-road-trip-to-burkina-faso",
        "published": "2026-10-06T11:27:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}