Twenty-two (22) Ghanaian referees have received FIFA badges for the 2025 football season.
The Ghana FA presented the FIFA badges to the twenty-two (22) Referees and Assistant Referees at a brief ceremony at the GFA Headquarters in Accra, on Tuesday January 21, 2025.
Historically, FIFA gives Referees' badges for the calendar year to the top ranked referees from the previous year.
Each year, Referees in each country are ranked by the Classification and Assessment Committee based on their performance during the previous year and in the FIFA Test. FIFA then approves the provision of badges per the number of Referees it assigns to each Member Association.
Ghana Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku congratulated the officials on the milestone chalked and urged them to be great ambassadors for the Football 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," President Kurt E.S Okraku 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."
Recounting the uncomplimentary history witnessed in Ghana football in 2018, the President was elated with the level of progress made in restoring confidence in Refereeing in Ghana Football.
"Obviously, 2018 was a bad page in the history of the Ghanaian game, especially when it comes to your profession. We started a new journey of repositioning refereeing in Ghana and beyond Ghana. And I think that all of you have contributed massively to our small success story."
The President acknowledged the challenges faced by match officials but urged them to remain steadfast in their pursuit of excellence.
"This is not to say that there have not been challenges. Refereeing is an art that has to grow continuously. On that journey of growth, there will be mistakes. On that journey of growth, there will be challenges. But when you are very motivated and your eyes are fixed on excellence, you continue to invest in yourself and to challenge yourself towards being much better at every given opportunity. That's why I'm so happy about the performances you guys have put up on the African continent, especially. We will continue to push and to ask for more opportunities for you. And I hope that when such opportunities come, you will not disappoint us."
His sentiments were echoed by General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo.
'We are happy with your progress and confident you will continue to make the profession worthy of emulation. This badge is for the year 2025 and will be reviewed by FIFA after the end of the calendar year. We wish you well.'
FIFA, in a recent statement, unveiled the official list of Ghana referees approved to officiate international matches for the 2025 calendar year.
The list comprises ten (10) Center Referees, ten (10) Assistant Referees, one (1) Futsal Referee, one (1) Beach Soccer Referee, and (1) Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
In all, 12 male Referees and Assistants received badges while 8 female Referees and Assistants have been named in the list sent by FIFA.
It is important to note that the FIFA badge remains the exclusive property of FIFA and it is for the period of one year.
The GFA will entreat the selected Referees to maintain high standards in officiating, as the Referees will represent Ghana on the global stage.
The match officials were each presented with a FIFA badge by President Kurt E.S Okraku, General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo and Chairperson of the Referees Appointment Committee, Christine Enyonam Zigah.
Other members of the Referees Committee Daniel Agbogah and W. Okine, as well as Head of Referees, Alex Kotey, were in attendance.
GFA Communications