The Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Committee (ExCo) has reviewed and approved new working conditions for referees in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), Division One League (DOL), and the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
This was announced by the President of the GFA, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, on Tuesday at the 31st Ordinary Session of Congress held at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, under the theme: ‘Winning the 12th Man, Youth Empowerment, and Consolidating Our Gains.’
Mr Simeon-Okraku stated that referees were the unseen backbone of football competitions, as their decisions shape not only matches but also the trust of players, coaches, fans, and stakeholders alike.
According to him, beginning in the 2025/26 football season, all 280 referees across the three major leagues will be insured, including group life cover, critical illness coverage, permanent disability, medical expenses, and workmen’s compensation.
He noted that the policy will also have other complimentary benefits such as spouse benefit, child benefit, parent benefit, and funeral support benefit, among others.
Mr Simeon-Okraku announced an enhanced monetary incentive for referees, with FIFA referees expected to receive GH¢2,500.00 per game, while non-FIFA referees receive GH¢2, 000.00 per game for GPL games. DOL and WPL referees will each take home GH¢1, 000.00.
In addition to these, referees will continue to enjoy a 50 per cent discount on travels via the FA’s partnership with the State Transport Company (STC) coaches.
Again, all referees will receive two pairs of boots, three sets of uniforms in different colours, and three sets of warm-up uniforms.
According to him, while hooliganism at match venues has declined significantly, the occasional physical and verbal attacks on referees by players, club officials, and supporters remain deeply troubling and entirely unacceptable.
“We must take a united stand, as a football family, to protect our referees and uphold the values of discipline, respect, and fair play.”
Furthermore, he announced that together with CAF, FIFA, and international partners, they are still exploring ways of introducing and implementing, in phases, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and advanced-match technology in the Premier League to enhance accuracy and reduce controversy.
Mr Simeon-Okraku, called for the urgent development of a comprehensive regulatory framework that would allow for responsible alcoholic beverage sponsorship of football in the country.
Under the current Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) guidelines, alcoholic beverage companies are barred from sponsoring football in Ghana. This legal barrier, according to the GFA president, continues to cost Ghana football millions of cedis in lost sponsorship opportunities.
He said it was counterproductive that Ghana football cannot benefit from a product category that supports football across the globe.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY