The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that Safeguarding Training and Certification will become compulsory for all officials within the Ghana football ecosystem starting from the 2026/27 football season.
This decision forms part of the GFA’s continued commitment to protecting everyone involved in the game, particularly children and vulnerable persons, from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
Under the directive, officials of clubs and licensed academies will be required to obtain at least the FIFA Guardians™ Safeguarding in Football Award certification as a minimum requirement for registration and recognition within Ghana football. The GFA will also provide additional safeguarding training programmes.
The GFA Safeguarding Unit has been conducting training sessions for key stakeholders including coaches, football medics, scouts, referees, match commissioners, team officials, club administrators, and staff of the GFA, Regional Football Associations (RFAs) and District Football Associations (DFAs).
The training focuses on recognising safeguarding risks, applying safeguarding principles, and promoting ethical conduct within football environments.
The GFA has already shared the link for the FIFA Safeguarding training and certification to all officials from the Grassroots level to the Elite League.
The GFA, through its partnerships, will also deploy the CAF Safeguarding Toolkit , which includes:
- Clear safeguarding principles and defined roles and responsibilities
- Guidance on risk identification and mitigation
- Codes of conduct for staff, officials, volunteers, and participants
- Reporting procedures and case management pathway
- Awareness, education, and capacity-building resources
The GFA Safeguarding Policy aligns with the safeguarding frameworks of FIFA and CAF, with a strong emphasis on youth protection, including educating players on how to identify fake agents and avoid exploitative contracts.
President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, emphasises the importance of safeguarding across the football landscape.
“Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility for everyone involved in football. Our goal is to ensure that every player, especially young people, can participate in the game in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. Making safeguarding training mandatory strengthens our collective responsibility to protect the game.”
The GFA is therefore urging all clubs, licensed academies and football officials to complete the required certification ahead of the 2026/27 season, as uncertified officials will not be eligible for registration within the Ghana football system.
“Millions of people around the world are passionate about football. No matter how they are involved in the game, everyone has the right to enjoy football in a safe and supportive environment and in a culture of respect and understanding – especially the youngest members of the football family.” — Gianni Infantino
GFA COMMUNICATIONS