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Mansour Group, a Cairo-based multinational conglomerate chaired by Egyptian billionaire businessman and philanthropist Mohamed Mansour, has unveiled plans to build a new facility for Right to Dream (RTD) Academy on the outskirts of Accra.
Construction is scheduled to begin next year and is expected to take about 12 months. The complex will include classrooms, dormitories, and football pitches, offering students the opportunity to study while developing their athletic skills.
Merging education and opportunity
The project will replace Right to Dream’s long-running base in Old Akrade, but all 127 employees will retain their jobs. During construction, lessons will continue at a temporary campus near Accra.
Right to Dream was set up in 1999 by former Manchester United scout Tom Vernon. Over the years, it has produced dozens of professional footballers and graduates who have gone on to study and work around the world. The academy’s mix of discipline, education, and sport has made it one of Africa’s most respected youth programs.
The new Right to Dream Academy is expected to deepen that impact. When finished, it will rank among the most advanced training and learning centers on the continent, strengthening Ghana’s position as a hub for youth development.
Backing from the Ghanaian government
Mansour, Chairman of Al Mansour Group, who also chairs Right to Dream, said the expansion reflects his group’s ongoing support for young people. “When opportunity meets discipline, lives change,” he said.
Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, welcomed the announcement, calling it a major boost for education and sports. “This partnership has already changed many young lives,” he said. “When talent is guided by structure and purpose, success naturally follows.”
The Accra project will be the third Right to Dream academy under Mansour’s ownership, following new facilities in Cairo and San Diego.
A deepening presence in Ghana
Mansour Group is one of Egypt’s largest privately owned conglomerates, operating in more than 100 countries. The group became the majority owner of Right to Dream in 2021 through its London-based investment firm, Man Capital LLP. Since then, it has invested over $180 million in the academy network, including roughly €15 million ($16 million) in Ghana.
Right to Dream now has academies in Egypt, Denmark, and the United States. Its newest branch, Right to Dream San Diego, opened in September 2025 and is already seen as one of North America’s top youth training centers.
Beyond football, the Mansour Group has long been active in Ghana, with investments in construction, energy, and automotive services. Mantrac Ghana, the country’s official Caterpillar dealer and part of the group, employs nearly 800 people and has trained over 500 engineers.
