Mansour Group to Build New World-Class Right to Dream Academy in Ghana

The Mansour Group, owners of Right to Dream (RTD), has announced plans to construct a new state-of-the-art RTD academy near Accra, Ghana, marking a significant investment in youth, education, and the next generation of talent.

The announcement of a new home for RTD Ghana marks a new chapter in the history of the Academy, which was founded in 1999.

The new multi-million-dollar facility is designed to deliver even better educational and athletic outcomes for RTD Ghana’s nearly 100 students, drawn from Ghana and the surrounding region. It will also be part of the global RTD operation, which today includes four academies and three professional football clubs on three continents.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with the academy opening as soon as 2027. During this period, RTD will offer positions to all its existing 127 employees in Ghana and will honour all student-athlete scholarships at a temporary facility near Accra.

For Sir Mohamed Mansour, the distinguished Egyptian-British entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, and Chairman of Right to Dream, the announcement reflects his belief in Ghana’s place at the heart of Right to Dream’s story.

“Ghana for decades has been at the heart of the Mansour Group, and Ghana will always be at the heart of Right to Dream. This is where this opportunity-giving program and model was born, and it has always been our ambition to make sure the talented youth, and all our employees, in Ghana have the facilities and home to match their potential and our common vision. 

“This is an investment in people and purpose, which will benefit all our students from all over Ghana, their families, their communities, and hopefully give them even bigger opportunities as role models, successful football players, academic scholars, and leaders who make their country proud.”

Since acquiring RTD from its founder Tom Vernon in 2021, the Mansour Group has invested more than US$180m in RTD, including €15m in Ghana alone.

This long-term investment has powered a new phase of growth, including the completion of a new academy in Cairo, Egypt in 2023 and the official opening of the academy in San Diego, California, in September 2025, making the new Ghana Academy the third to be built since the acquisition.

The continued growth has been mirrored by record achievements across the community, with more students than ever becoming professional footballers or earning academic scholarships at leading schools in the United States, and more graduates representing their national teams at the highest level of the sport. 

To date, over 260 graduates have signed professional contracts, nearly 100 have received academic scholarships worth a combined US$30 million, and seven represented their national teams at the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup.

The Ghanaian Government has welcomed the announcement. Hon. Kofi Iddie Adams, Minister for Sports and Recreation, said: “This partnership builds on a powerful story that has already transformed lives. For years, Mansour Group, through the Right to Dream Academy, has shown what is possible when sport is used as a vehicle for human potential, combining football, education, and character development to shape the next generation of leaders. 

“The decision to expand that mission here in Accra and reinforce Ghana’s place as Africa’s hub for football talent, is more than an investment; it is a vote of confidence in our nation’s future. It is proof that when vision meets structure, and when passion is matched with purpose, sport becomes far more than a game; it becomes a driver of education, empowerment, and national transformation."

Further announcements regarding the location and design of the new Academy will be shared soon. The existing facility in Old Akrade will continue to be owned by Tom Vernon’s foundation but will not be part of the global RTD group.