The Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Japanese multinational Meiji Holdings Company Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a potential long-term partnership in sports nutrition, player performance and football development in Ghana.
The engagement took place on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, where Meiji Holdings formally presented a support package to the GFA as part of activities marking the company’s 100th anniversary.
GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku led the Association’s delegation to receive the package, which includes SAVAS sports nutrition supplements and protein shakes, as well as a further financial commitment towards health and nutrition coaching.
The proposed partnership is expected to explore collaboration in sports nutrition and player performance, youth football development, women’s football, health and nutrition education, coaching and technical development, and other areas of football development.
As part of the discussions, Meiji expressed interest in exploring opportunities to introduce its SAVAS sports nutrition products to the Ghanaian market, leveraging the reach and popularity of football and the GFA.
The initiative, however, will be subject to commercial arrangements to be agreed by both parties.
Meiji also indicated its interest in gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the GFA and identifying areas where it could provide meaningful and sustainable support.
The GFA, meanwhile, is expected to explore additional areas of mutual interest as the relationship develops, with the initial support serving as a potential foundation for broader cooperation.
Speaking at a closed-door meeting following the presentation, President Simeon-Okraku thanked Meiji for the support and welcomed the company’s interest in collaborating with the Association.
“Football is and will always be a good vehicle for SAVAS in terms of market penetration strategy,” he said.
“We will leverage on this relationship and explore ways of ensuring the partnership is mutually beneficial,” he added.
GFA Vice-President Mark Addo also welcomed Meiji’s commitment to providing technical expertise and training for GFA officials on the appropriate use of SAVAS sports nutrition supplements and protein products.
“I am excited to hear that you will bring in experts to teach and train our officials,” Mr Addo said. “We appreciate this and look forward to more collaborative efforts.”
The proposed technical support is expected to strengthen knowledge of sports nutrition among football officials and promote informed approaches to athlete health, preparation and performance.
The relationship was formalised through the signing of the MoU, with President Simeon-Okraku signing on behalf of the GFA and Katsunari Matsuda, CEO of Meiji Holdings Company Limited, signing for the Japanese firm.
The signing was witnessed by GFA Vice-President Mark Addo, Bunjiro Yao, Chief Executive of Meiji Company Limited, and Tsubasa Nakagawa, Director General of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Ghana.
The nutrition supplement component of the support package is expected to be delivered to the GFA on a date and in a manner to be mutually agreed by the two parties.
The GFA’s Head of Business Development, Janice Odonkor, has played a key role in advancing the engagement, working closely with JETRO Ghana, which facilitated the donation and continues to support discussions towards a potential long-term partnership.
The engagement builds on discussions initiated earlier in the year between the GFA and JETRO Ghana as part of efforts to promote greater collaboration between Ghana and Japan through sport and other areas of economic and cultural exchange.
The collaboration is expected to create opportunities for knowledge transfer, technical cooperation and commercial engagement while contributing to efforts to improve sports nutrition and athlete welfare within Ghana football.
The engagement coincided with Meiji’s 100th anniversary celebration at the Kempinski Hotel, which attracted senior government officials and other distinguished guests.
Those in attendance included Chief of Staff Julius Debrah and Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.
President Simeon-Okraku was accompanied by Vice-President Mark Addo, Executive Council member Samuel Aboabire, Head of Business Development Janice Odonkor and Senior Communications Manager at the Office of the President, Patrick Akoto.
The GFA and Meiji Holdings are expected to continue discussions into 2027 as they explore opportunities to build on the initial support and develop a broader relationship combining sports nutrition expertise, athlete welfare, commercial engagement and football development.
