The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is preparing to unveil the inaugural group of professional referees who will be hired on a full-time basis.
This announcement was made by GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku during the 30th Ordinary Congress at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram on August 27, 2024.
The first cohort will include five male and five female referees, marking Ghana’s first instance of full-time professional referees.
This move is part of the GFA’s broader plan to elevate the standards and professionalism of officiating in Ghanaian football.
President Simeon-Okraku highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating that it will enable referees to concentrate solely on their roles without the distraction of other jobs.
“This is a major advancement in our efforts to professionalize every facet of football in Ghana.
By employing referees full-time, we are ensuring they have the necessary time, resources, and support to excel,” he said.
The introduction of full-time referees is expected to enhance the overall quality of officiating, an area the GFA has been working to improve.
This initiative is seen as a crucial step toward addressing concerns about refereeing standards in the country.
Furthermore, the inclusion of both male and female referees demonstrates the GFA’s commitment to gender equality in football.
The official announcement of the first batch of full-time referees will be made soon, marking a new chapter in Ghanaian refereeing.
