The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has issued a firm reminder to referees to uphold integrity and professionalism as the new Ghana Premier League season kicks off on Friday, 12 September.
In a virtual meeting with match officials ahead of the season opener between Hearts of Oak and newly promoted Hohoe United, Mr Okraku made it clear that there would be no tolerance for unethical conduct on the part of referees.
“Let me be clear and without any form of ambiguity: I will not stand in the way of justice if any of you engage in unprofessional or unethical conduct,” he said.
“One of the key demands is integrity, and we will not compromise on anything that threatens the momentum, energy and gains made ahead of the new campaign.”
Also present at the meeting were Executive Council Member and Chairman of the Referees Assessors and Classification Panel, Frederick Acheampong, Referees Manager Alex Kotey, and Chairperson of the Referees Committee, Christine Enyonam Zigah.
The GFA has rolled out a new package of financial and welfare improvements for referees across the top-tier Premier League, the Access Bank Division One League, and the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League. The move is aimed at improving working conditions and incentivising high performance.
Mr Okraku urged referees to match these improvements with unwavering commitment on the pitch.
“I am very expectant ahead of the best Premier League ever. With your full cooperation, we can deliver top-level performances free of needless controversies,” he added.
He called on match officials to ensure their performances meet the expectations of players, fans, and stakeholders alike, saying that their role is pivotal to the league’s credibility.
The 2025/26 season begins with heightened anticipation, as fans hope for a clean, competitive campaign built on trust in the people enforcing the rules of the game.
