ACCRA - Ghana's much-awaited youth football leagues will begin on April 17, the country's football association announced on Tuesday.

Open to U-13, U-15 and U-17 footballers, the league campaigns will be followed by the youth FA Cup competition across the country.

The start of the league and cup forms part of strategies being implemented by the Ghanaian FA, through the national youth committee, to bolster the management and revamping of youth football across the country.

The committee recently adopted new conventions, with an emphasis on removing bottlenecks in the administration and management of youth football.

Since assuming office in October last year, GFA president Kurt Okraku has been of the belief that Ghana needs to harness its footballing talents at a young age if the country is to continue its tradition as one of Africa's great footballing nations.