GFA boss positive about improvement in refereeing

Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku, has indicated that there has been positive responses from match officials over changes to the refereeing structure in Ghana football with the establishment of a new Refereeing Department within the football governing body.

Last Tuesday, the GFA appointed retried FIFA referee, Mr Alex Kotey as the first Referees Manager with a lot of responsibilities to help improve match officiating and develop referees in Ghana.

New appointments

Also the FA’s Executive Council appointed Mr Frederick Acheampong to head the newly created Referees Assessors and Classification Panel charged with evaluating and assessing the performance of referees, while Dr Francis Eyiah Bediako of the Central Regional FA heads the Referees Match Review Panel.

Mr Okraku said he was already positive the new structures would be a game changer for refereeing in Ghana football, and that the feedback from referees to the new arrangement was very encouraging.

"I have had various calls from some of the referees and they are very elated with the new development as they believe it can help them a lot," Mr Okraku told the Daily Graphic.

"The phase of refereeing in Ghana will change forever as we seek to lift our game to much more higher standard."

The new referees manager, will report to the GFA General Secretary, and will also assist the FA’s Referees Committee.