President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has officially opened the FIFA Member Association (MA) Young Talent Refereeing Course at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, reaffirming the Association's commitment to developing the next generation of elite match officials.
Addressing the participants and FIFA instructors at the opening ceremony, President Simeon-Okraku underscored the importance of the programme, revealing that he made it a priority to attend despite returning from the FIFA World Cup only a day earlier.
"I felt it was important to be here because the future of refereeing in Ghana matters to all of us. This course is an investment in that future, and I wanted to personally encourage these young referees as they begin this important journey," he said.
The GFA President reflected on one of the most challenging periods in Ghanaian refereeing, recalling how the country lost nearly 78 referees in the aftermath of the Anas exposé. He explained that the situation highlighted the urgent need to rebuild the refereeing structure and inspired the introduction of the GFA's Catch Them Young Refereeing Policy.
According to President Simeon-Okraku, the initiative was designed to identify, nurture and prepare young referees to ensure a sustainable future for football officiating in Ghana.
He expressed delight that the FIFA MA Young Talent Refereeing Course complements the Association's long-term vision by providing young match officials with world-class training under the guidance of experienced FIFA instructors.
"The FIFA MA Young Talent Course perfectly complements our Catch Them Young Refereeing Policy. Together, these initiatives are helping us build a strong foundation for the future of refereeing in Ghana, and I am excited about what lies ahead," he stated.
President Simeon-Okraku also highlighted the tangible progress made through the Catch Them Young programme, noting that several beneficiaries are already officiating in the country's top competitions.
"Today, some of the referees who came through the Catch Them Young programme are already officiating in the Division One League and even the Ghana Premier League. That is evidence that the policy is working and that opportunities exist for those who are committed to developing themselves," he said.
He urged the participants to make the most of the opportunity presented by the FIFA course, reminding them that they had been selected because of their potential and encouraging them to approach every session with discipline, commitment and a willingness to learn.
"You should count yourselves fortunate to be part of this programme. Learn as much as you can from the instructors, work hard, remain disciplined and prepare yourselves for the opportunities that lie ahead. The future of Ghanaian refereeing could very well be sitting in this room," he told the young officials.
The FIFA MA Young Talent Refereeing Course is a capacity-building programme designed to equip promising young match officials with the technical, tactical and physical competencies required to progress to elite levels of officiating. The course is being conducted by FIFA Technical Instructor Essameldin Abdelfattah Hassan Abdelhamid of Egypt and FIFA Physical Instructor Boubakar Hannachi of Tunisia.
The programme forms part of the Association's broader strategy to strengthen refereeing standards and create a sustainable pathway for young officials to earn appointments at national, continental and international levels.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS