Volunteering in Ghana

In the village of Tinkong, just north of Accra, there are still very few organised after-school sports activities, even though the children are really keen to take part. You’ll be working on this together with local coaches.

Ghana has made significant progress in the field of education in recent years. However, many children and young people still do not have equal access to good education and out-of-school activities, particularly in rural areas where there are fewer teachers and facilities.

Our project takes place in rural Tinkong and in bustling Koforidua. Two very different places, but with the same energy: children who are keen to play sport.

Together with our local partner, the Live Now Foundation, we use sport to get young people active and to encourage their personal development. Children who would not normally have access to regular sports lessons receive weekly sports lessons. The programme is open to every child, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

Our site also has its own football academy, which competes in Ghana’s second tier. The aim is not to train professional footballers, but to offer young people a positive environment, structure and prospects. For many young people, the academy is a source of motivation, both within and outside sport.

As a volunteer, you will deliver sports lessons and support children and young people in their development. You will work closely with the local community and with local coaches.

Athletics Basketball Rugby Football Volleyball

Sport not only provides enjoyment, but also helps to develop skills such as teamwork, communication, discipline, leadership and self-confidence. In this way, you help young people to create opportunities in their own communities.

Football is by far the most popular sport in Ghana. The national team, the Black Stars, has a rich history in international football. Volleyball, athletics and boxing are also very popular.

Ghana also has a strong tradition of traditional games, such as awalé, a board game that is widely played in villages. Sport is a source of pride for many Ghanaians and brings the community together.

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5

sports to practise

Tinkong

and Koforidua

Every week

sports lessons for every child, whatever the family can afford

Choose your sport

Five sports, you choose where you stand

Sports volunteering GhanaInternship Ghana
Sport 1 of 5 · Tinkong

Athletics coach

In Ghana, it is not that easy to develop your skills in athletics. Schools receive very little funding for sporting activities. There isn’t an athletics club in the immediate vicinity either. The aim, therefore, is to set one up ourselves. This is where your knowledge as an athletics coach will help the local coaches. It would, of course, be useful if you had some experience in this sport.

Our athletics programmes are based in and around Tinkong. As a volunteer athletics coach you are placed at schools in the local community. The athletes are between 10 and 16 years old and vary in talent and experience. You will be surprised, however, by the levels of speed, strength and endurance many of the children have. The young athletes train hard and dream of being the next athlete to represent Ghana at the Olympic Games or World Championships.

The main aim is to give more young people the chance to train in a fun and structured environment. This gives them the opportunity to belong to a team, enjoy sport and develop in athletics events. Examples of events you can coach are listed below.

  • Long jump
  • High jump
  • Triple jump
  • Shot put
  • Javelin
  • Discus
  • 100m sprint
  • 200m sprint
  • 400m sprint
  • 800m
  • 1500m
  • 3000m
  • Marathon
Sign up for athletics
Volunteering Ghanavolunteering Ghana
Sport 2 of 5 · Tinkong

Basketball coach

Basketball is seen as the next up-and-coming sport in Ghana. There is an abundance of talent in the country, and the Ghana Basketball Association (GBA) has worked hard to build a training and development programme. A role as a volunteer basketball coach gives you the chance to be part of the training and matches of some of Ghana’s best athletes.
That is only one side of the game, though, and you can choose how involved you want to be. You can of course also focus on young, enthusiastic players at a more relaxed level, where the emphasis is on fun and making friends.

We have links with a number of local schools and division teams at various levels. We work closely with the Ghana Basketball Association and can place basketball coaches at the better training camps, if that appeals to you.

Sign up for basketball
Rugby training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of SportsFijs in Ghana - volunteer story - The Power of SportsRugby training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of Sports
Sport 3 of 5 · Tinkong

Rugby coach

Rugby is a growing sport in Ghana and is gaining popularity in communities such as Tinkong. Although the sport is still relatively new, many young people show enormous passion and talent for rugby. There is a high demand for coaches who are willing to share their knowledge with local coaches and players. As a volunteer rugby coach, you’ll have the opportunity to make the sport more accessible and make a lasting impact. Experience in rugby is an advantage, but enthusiasm and dedication are what matter most.

Our rugby programmes are based in and around Tinkong. As a volunteer you work at local schools and coach youth teams. The players are between 10 and 16 years old and vary in experience, from beginners to talented young people who dream of a professional rugby career. You will be amazed by their physical strength, speed and dedication to the sport.

The aim of our programme is to give young people the chance to play rugby in a safe and structured environment. This lets them be part of a team, develop discipline and learn to work together. Rugby is also a great way to build confidence and inspire them to push their limits, on and off the pitch.

Sign up for rugby
Daan in Ghana - The Power of SportsFootball training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of SportsFootball training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of Sports
Sport 4 of 5 · Tinkong

Football coach

Football is the most popular sport in Ghana, and Tinkong is no different. In this rural village we have strong ties with the local community and a special focus on developing young footballers through our own football academy, the Live Now Academy. The academy offers young people a unique chance to develop their talent and take their first steps towards a possible career in top-level football.

We welcome volunteers with any level of football experience and ensure that everyone finds a suitable role. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an enthusiastic amateur footballer or a qualified and accredited coach: anyone with a passion for the game and a desire to work alongside the local coaches is very welcome. As long as you have a basic understanding of football and kick a ball around yourself from time to time, you’ll have enough skills to help out. Enthusiasm and commitment are the most important qualities for success. Many of our volunteers have little or no coaching experience, yet they still make a significant contribution to the game and the personal development of the young people.

In Tinkong, volunteers are assigned to team members within the Live Now football academy. Tinkong works closely with the schools, both the primary schools and the junior high schools (ages 12 to 16). You will be amazed at the skill, passion and sheer dedication you find here. The Live Now Academy in Tinkong has already produced several young players who dream of a professional football career, in Ghana and abroad.

As a volunteer you help coach young people who not only have the talent to break through but also a deep love of the game. The Live Now Academy has its own team, which plays in the second division of the Eastern Region.

Football coaching in Tinkong goes beyond serious drills and tactical focus. It gives young people the chance to work together, experience structure and be part of a team. That sense of belonging is crucial, not only for their development as footballers but also for their personal growth. As a coach you play an important role in creating a safe and supportive environment in which young people can develop both

on the pitch and socially.

Sign up for football
Volleyball training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of SportsVolleyball training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of SportsVolleyball training at a sports project in Ghana by The Power of Sports
Sport 5 of 5 · Tinkong

Volleyball coach

In Ghana, it is not easy to develop your skills in volleyball. Schools have limited budgets for sporting activities, and volleyball clubs are few and far between. Our aim is therefore to give young people in Tinkong and the surrounding areas the chance to develop their skills in this sport within a structured environment. As a volunteer volleyball coach, you’ll help players make rapid progress. It’s helpful if you have some experience of volleyball, but enthusiasm and commitment are what matter most.

Our volleyball programmes take place in and around Tinkong. As a volunteer you coach at local schools and support youth teams in the community. The players are between 10 and 16 years old and vary in talent and experience. You will be amazed, however, by their perseverance, energy and eagerness to learn. Many of these young players dream of playing at national level and perhaps even representing Ghana in international competitions.

The main aim of our programme is to give more young people the chance to play volleyball in a fun and structured environment. They learn to work together, become part of a team and develop their volleyball skills. The sport also contributes to their personal growth and social skills.

Accommodation

On the edge of the village of Tinkong lies the extensive compound, around 2 hectares in size. It houses the football academy (with its own gym), the school, the day centre for children with disabilities, a large training pitch and the volunteer house. We run a broad development programme here, with sport as a major part. Tinkong is our base, and from there you can easily travel to Accra or Koforidua.

The friendly family house can accommodate up to around 15 volunteers and interns at a time. There are two bedrooms with two bunk beds each, plus several rooms with large beds. The 35 boys of the neighbouring football academy also sleep in bunk beds.
The family house has a large, cosy living room with a big TV on which you can follow all the European leagues. In the kitchen-diner the volunteers sit together around a large oval table, where Kessiwa, the cook, cooks for everyone, although you can also fry your own egg. After dinner the board games often come out.

ARRIVAL WEEKENDS

In Ghana you can arrive any weekend. Please note that there are no sports projects during the Christmas holidays. Otherwise you can volunteer in Ghana all year round.

WHY THE POWER OF SPORTS

  • No registration fee and a no-obligation introductory call.
  • The project Akansie Tumidi (The Power of Sports in Twi) was set up by ourselves.
  • Our projects are affordable, especially when you see everything you get in return.
  • As a travel organisation that focuses entirely on social sports trips.
  • We tell you an honest story and assess whether you are suited to the project.
  • Our programmes are run responsibly and have a proven positive impact.
  • All our staff know our programmes abroad well.
  • We offer good personal support, both in the UK and abroad.
  • We are independently assessed by Volunteer Aware.

How experienced do I need to be to volunteer?

This is a volunteering trip, not a holiday. It’s best suited to people who feel at home in simple surroundings and who are coming primarily to make a contribution.

None of our projects require you to have certificates or to have studied sport. As a volunteer you have a supporting role and you will never be on your own. We are not necessarily looking for Ghana’s next international; we want to help children from all social backgrounds develop socially and build life skills through sport. You give the next generation the chance to play sport in a fun and organised environment. So whatever your background and experience, you can be sure you are making a positive contribution by volunteering as a coach in Ghana.

What does matter is that you have a basic knowledge of the rules of the sport and, above all, plenty of enthusiasm. You do need to speak reasonable English and understand it well.

I am a vegetarian. Will my dietary requirements be taken into account?
If you let us know in advance that you are a vegetarian, they can take this into account in Ghana and arrange suitable meals for you

What do I need to bear in mind when travelling abroad?
-Following our no-obligation consultation, during which we’ll go through everything, we’ll also send you a ‘welcome pack’ setting out in detail everything you need to bear in mind, what you need to bring with you, what to watch out for, and so on.

How many other people will I be volunteering with?
– There are always other interns/volunteers staying at the accommodation in Ghana. The size of the group varies between 10 and 20. They do not all come from the UK, but from other countries as well. You can contact us to find out how many others will be there during your stay. We’ll also set up a group chat with other Dutch people who’ll be making the trip at the same time. That way, you can get to know each other in advance.

Welcome Pack Ghana - The Power of Sports

Emmanuel Nkrumah

Good day, everyone. My name is Emmanuel Nkrumah and I am the Volunteer Project Co-ordinator at Tinkong. In this role, I coordinate the activities of volunteers, oversee day-to-day operations and support programmes that provide children, young people and adults with the practical skills they need to live independently.

I am passionate about developing my community, about teamwork and about creating opportunities that promote inclusion and personal growth. I believe sport and education can change lives. My goal is to make sure our programmes are well organised, have a positive impact and meet the needs of the people we support. At the same time, we want to create a positive and supportive environment for volunteers and participants alike.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the mission of The Power of Sports. I look forward to working with partners, volunteers and members of the community to build something that will last.

Ghana volunteering
Ghana
4 weeks of volunteering

€ 980

Price 2026/2027

No registration fee

  • Each extra week € 210

What’s included

Stay

  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Support

  • Dedicated coordinator at your project
  • Meet your coordinator and former interns before you go
  • Visa advice and support.

Arrival

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Introduction and guided tour in Accra

Extra

  • Group chat with everyone travelling at the same time as you
  • Social activities with other volunteers and interns

Ready to go? Book a free, no-obligation intake call and we’ll help you plan.

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Volunteer Aware

‘The Power of Sports’ is independently assessed by Volunteer Aware, the index for fair volunteering abroad.