Following months of dialogue, proposal reviews, and collaborative planning, Pathfinders Global met with the leadership of the National Youth Authority to present the Ghana–Germany Football Exchange proposal, align on strategy, and confirm NYA's participation in the delegation trip. The meeting was a resounding success. NYA's leadership gave an unequivocal commitment to join the trip and advance this initiative together.

As Ghana's foremost youth development institution, NYA brings unmatched national reach and government credibility to the programme. Their involvement elevates it from a pioneering sports exchange to a truly national effort, backed at the highest levels of Ghana's youth ecosystem.

NYA's participation adds critical institutional weight to the initiative across several dimensions:

•National Convener: NYA serves as the national coordinating body, connecting ministries, local authorities, academies, and youth groups across Ghana.

•Youth Mobilisation: Leveraging NYA's nationwide resource centres to identify, screen, and select young athletes from every region.

•Government Endorsement: Official NYA co-branding provides institutional credibility and opens doors to ministries, schools, and state agencies.

•Bilateral Impact: Strengthening Ghana–Germany relations through football diplomacy, sustainable tourism, and cultural exchange at a national level.

•Monitoring & Evaluation: NYA contributes to impact documentation, tracking youth outcomes, gender equity indicators, and national development contributions.

Before the first cohort departs, the Pathfinders Global team has been visiting football schools and training facilities across Ghana, meeting coaches, speaking with young players, and introducing the programme directly at the grassroots level. These visits are laying the groundwork for a transparent, community-rooted selection process that gives every talented young player a fair chance.

A curated diplomatic visit is now underway, bringing key Ghanaian stakeholders including NYA leadership, Ministry officials, and Pathfinders Global to Cologne, Germany. The delegation departs April 25, 2026. The trip includes visits to 1. FC Köln training facilities, meetings with club executives and youth development managers, engagement with the Cologne Tourist Board on sustainable tourism collaboration, and finalising operational arrangements for the inaugural cohort.

The first cohort of young athletes is set for September 2026. Registration is open for athletes aged 10–16.