Right to Dream Academy Ghana which was founded in 1999 by Tom Vernon, a social entrepreneur and football enthusiast from the United Kingdom will outdoor its new Mantrac Center at Old Akrade, near Akosombo on Friday March 28, 2014 .

According to Erasmus Kwaw, Public Relations and Communications Consultant of the Academy, Right to Dream is a non-profit making sports and educational academy. Starting on a small scale, training just a few boys on a dust pitch in Accra, the Academy has evolved into a fully residential international school, offering scholarships to talented children drawn from across West Africa.

He said “Our approach and belief is that development in Africa can be achieved more quickly and sustainably by increasing the number and quality of Role Models: leaders in all areas of our society that inspire positive change. Creating more role models is about finding and nurturing those with the least opportunity but with the most potential to lead positive change. Our innovative Academy programme combines academic, character and talent development. To date, we have awarded five-year scholarships to over 100 children to study at the Academy”.

Since 2008, RtD has had the most successful African U-15 football team, by achieving four top-eight finishes in the World Finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup. And in May 2013, RtD made history by opening the first residential girls’ academy in the world. RtD are leading real change for girls in Ghana and for girls in sports worldwide. RtD is at the forefront of real development and change by creating a comprehensive programme of support for the future female role models of Ghana.

Until recently the Academy has attracted corporate support due to their practical achievements, such as Vodacom, Tullow Oil and others. Now Mantrac has joined and it is a positive sign for the development of real professional footballers.

For fifteen years, Right to Dream has sought to unearth the talent that exists in Ghana, and provide those young Ghanaians with the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

17 students and graduates – including Black Stars striker, Abdul Majeed Waris, who scored three goals in helping Ghana to qualify for the FIFA World Cup dubbed Brazil 2014 and Fuseina Mumuni, currently representing Ghana at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica – have achieved international honours with the Ghana national teams;

24 RtD graduates have signed professional football contracts - including Mohammed Abu, David Accam, Bismark Adjei-Boateng. Emmanuel Boateng and Godsway Donyoh - with several graduates securing contracts with English Premier League giants, Manchester City;

40 RtD graduates are furthering their education on student athlete scholarships at leading colleges and universities in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

The Academy also offers opportunity to players who do not attract foreign clubs but interested in becoming coaches and team managers.