Former Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien has lauded the Mansour Group’s decision to fund a new world-class Right to Dream (RTD) Academy near Accra, describing it as a landmark investment in Ghana’s next generation of footballers and leaders.

The project, backed by the Mansour Group—owners of Right to Dream—is expected to break ground in early 2026, with construction anticipated to conclude by 2027. In the meantime, the academy will operate from a temporary site to ensure uninterrupted learning and training for student-athletes and staff.

Essien, who currently serves on the coaching staff at FC Nordsjaelland, RTD’s European partner club, said the initiative would strengthen the academy’s model of combining elite football with academic excellence. 

“As a kid, I never had the opportunities Right to Dream is offering now. I had to find my own way, and it wasn’t easy. What Right to Dream is doing is a gift to the youth and future of Ghana, especially because academic education is such a big part of the program alongside the football,” he said.

The multi-million-dollar facility will cater for nearly 100 student-athletes from Ghana and other parts of Africa, continuing the academy’s two-decade mission of blending education and sport. 

Founded in 1999, RTD has produced professional footballers and scholarship recipients who have advanced to elite clubs and prestigious academic institutions worldwide.

Since acquiring RTD in 2021, the Mansour Group has invested more than US$180 million across the global network, including about €15 million in Ghana. The Group has also opened new academies in Cairo in 2023 and San Diego in 2025, expanding RTD’s reach to four academies and three professional clubs across three continents.

Essien praised the Mansour family’s commitment to the project, noting that their leadership had deepened RTD’s pledge to young athletes. “Since the Mansour family took over, the pledges and commitment to the students have only expanded. The new academy plans and investment in Ghana is a massive statement and will improve Right to Dream’s Ghanaian program even further in the years to come,” he said.

Right to Dream has assured that all 127 of its Ghana-based employees will be retained during the construction phase, and every student scholarship will remain valid at the temporary Accra-area site.

The government has welcomed the announcement, calling it a vote of confidence in Ghana’s youth and a boost to the country’s reputation as a hub for nurturing African talent. The Ministry of Sports and Recreation said the project aligns with national goals to integrate education with grassroots talent development and foster public-private partnerships in youth sports.

For Essien, the development holds both personal and national significance. “I work with the young people and players coming through the academy on and off the pitch every day. It gives me great joy to help them develop further and assist them in reaching the next steps of their future with endless potential,” he said. “I see many of them grow every day in Denmark, pushed by their teammates from other parts of RTD’s global community, and I know they all have the opportunity, talent, and dream to make their families and Ghana proud.”

The Mansour Group, which operates long-standing ventures in Ghana, including Mantrac (Caterpillar) and Mansour Autos, estimates that it has invested around US$600 million in the country over the past decade, primarily in operations and training programmes.

Industry analysts have already hailed RTD’s San Diego campus as a benchmark for youth football development, setting expectations high for the Accra project.

Essien described the initiative as a lasting contribution to Ghana’s progress. “This is a gift,” he said. “And it’s one that will keep giving to Ghana’s future.”