President Kurt Okraku outlines major strides in referee development and modernisation

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has outlined significant progress in the development and professionalisation of refereeing in Ghana, emphasizing the FA's commitment to raising standards and nurturing the next generation of match officials.

He made these remarks during the launch of the GFA’s new insurance policy for referees, a landmark welfare intervention for officials across the Premier League, Division One League and Women’s Premier League on Tuesday in Accra.

According to the GFA President, the past year has seen deliberate and far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening officiating at all levels of the game.

“Over the past year, the GFA has taken deliberate steps to raise the standards of officiating,” he noted, highlighting the Association’s collaborative work with FIFA and CAF as central to these improvements.

Through these partnerships, the GFA has rolled out a comprehensive suite of capacity-building programmes, including national and regional refresher courses, technical and theoretical workshops, and mandatory fitness assessments. In addition, enhanced evaluation systems and performance-based referee appointments have been introduced to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in match officiating. Video analysis has also been integrated into training programmes, giving referees and instructors powerful tools for reviewing performances and driving continuous improvement.

President Simeon-Okraku stressed that these reforms are already yielding visible results. “These interventions are gradually transforming our refereeing landscape, ensuring that officials have the knowledge, conditioning, and feedback required to excel,” he said.

The GFA President also underscored the GFA's growing commitment to inclusivity and talent development. He highlighted the rise in female participation at elite levels of officiating, a development he described as encouraging and necessary for the growth of the sport.

Additionally, the “Catch Them Young” refereeing initiative is playing a pivotal role in identifying and grooming promising young officials nationwide. Under this programme, young referees are provided with essential officiating materials — including uniforms, whistles, flags and cards — along with structured mentorship to guide their progression.

Overall, the 2nd Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)  reaffirmed that the GFA’s ongoing investments in training, development and inclusivity form a crucial part of its broader vision to elevate the standard of refereeing in Ghana. The Football Association, he said, remains resolute in its mission to build a new generation of skilled, confident and respected match officials who can perform at the highest levels with integrity and professionalism.

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