Speaking at the launch of the maiden edition of the First Lady’s Cup, she said the competition was the women’s version of the Presidential Cup, which opens a new era in women’s football in Ghana.

According to her, the competition is to recognise the importance of putting the spotlight on women’s football, adding that female footballers had demonstrated enough quality to excel when given the needed support.

She said the competition was created to recognize the importance of putting women’s football in the spotlight, and those female footballers had demonstrated the ability to excel when given the necessary support.

According to her, women’s football had been confronted by several challenges such as poor infrastructure, a lack of equipment, transportation, and insufficient human resources to manage activities, and demanded that these issues be addressed.

The First Lady’s Cup will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium between the top teams from the Southern and Northern zones on Friday, December 10, 2021.

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Mrs Akufo-Addo said she was honoured to launch a competition in her honour, stating that it would serve as a platform to move women’s football to the next level.

Mrs Akufo-Addo explained that the maiden cup project would serve as a source for soliciting funds for the establishment of West Africa’s first Women’s School Soccer Excellence.

“I’m excited that the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Education are pursuing a school program to develop the girl child football, talent in-line with FIFA’s books for boots project.

“The school would train women coaches and other technical staff to upgrade the capacity of women in the football industry, to create a solid foundation for the development of women’s football in Ghana,” she added.

The mascot, which is an eagle would be called “Agrohemaa” and it symbolizes, courage, strength and focus.

The LOC also launched official website, www.afconwomenghana.com, to help provide all necessary details about preparations, participating teams and their profiles among others.

Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah, Minister for Youth and Sports, said all Ghanaians should come on board to help in the successful hosting of the continental competition.

According to him, Ghana has done it before, by hosting the WAFU competition at just one venue, the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, adding that Ghana would do it again by successfully hosting the Women AFCON 2018 at two venues.

“Ghana is ready, the venues are ready and there shouldn’t be any fears at all. We have a great team of men and women working tirelessly for us to have a great and befitting tournament.

“We just have to throw our weight behind them, let us show to the rest of Africa our culture, tourism and hospitality.

“The mascot symbolizes a great deal of strength, courage, focus and that is what the team and Ghana as a whole stand for” he added

Meanwhile, report reaching GNA Sports indicate that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is satisfied with the second report of the preparations and has reaffirmed Ghana as hosts, with an official communication to be released soon.

Silvia Amankwa who was adjudged the overall best player of the competition scored the only goal to give Prison Ladies their first major trophy.

Besides the glittering trophy, the winning team also received 10,000 Ghana cedis as prize money.

The knockout competition was introduced by the Ghana Football Association last year and received sponsorship from Sanford World Clinics.

According to her, Sanford for the second season of the tournament has decided to provide the finalists with brand new set of jerseys and other incentives aside the cash price of 10,000gh from the maiden edition.

“This year Sanford World Clinics has decided to increase the price package of the winner of the FA Cup final. Unlike last year, the headline sponsor has increased the package and this has added a lot of excitement to the game” Madam Amoh added.

Defending champions Police ladies will square it off with Prisons ladies at the cape coast stadium on Saturday, 28th October.