22 Ghanaian referees receive FIFA badges for 2025 season

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has presented FIFA badges to 22 referees and assistant referees during a brief ceremony at the GFA Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

FIFA awards badges annually to top-ranked referees based on their performance in the previous year and their results in the FIFA Test. The FIFA badge is the exclusive property of FIFA and is valid for one year.

This year’s recipients included 10 center referees, 10 assistant referees, one futsal referee, one beach soccer referee, and one video assistant referee (VAR).

Among the 22 officials, 12 are male and 8 are female, highlighting Ghana’s increasing representation in international officiating.

GFA President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, congratulated the officials on their achievement and encouraged them to be excellent ambassadors for the association.

"On the whole, every member of this group has done a good job. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Daniel (Laryea) for all that you have done for your good self and for Ghana. And to all of you who have been officiating on the continent, I have not had any negative reportage on your performances," he said.

"Your performances have justified the trust and the belief CAF and FIFA have in your good selves. I think that you should be encouraged  to do much, much better than you have done so far. In times past, we have had good officials representing our country," he added.

In attendance were General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo and Referees Appointment Committee Chairperson, Christine Enyonam Zigah as well as other committee members and officials present.