The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has honored 22 Ghanaian referees and assistant referees with prestigious FIFA badges for the 2025 football season. The badges were presented during a brief ceremony held at the GFA Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
FIFA awards referees’ badges annually to top-ranked officials based on their performance from the previous year. The Classification and Assessment Committee evaluates referees through performance reviews and FIFA Test results, after which FIFA assigns badges to eligible officials from each Member Association.
Recognizing Excellence in Ghanaian Refereeing
GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku congratulated the referees, highlighting their significant contributions to Ghanaian and international football.
“Every member of this group has done a remarkable job. I want to especially commend Daniel Laryea for his exceptional efforts for Ghana and himself. To all of you officiating on the continent, your performances have justified the trust FIFA and CAF have placed in you. This milestone should inspire you to achieve even greater success,” President Okraku remarked.
Reflecting on the setbacks of 2018, President Okraku praised the progress in restoring confidence in Ghanaian refereeing.
“The year 2018 was a dark period for Ghanaian football, especially for refereeing. Since then, we’ve embarked on a journey to reposition and elevate refereeing standards. Your dedication has been pivotal to this success story,” he said.
A Path Toward Excellence
Acknowledging the challenges of refereeing, the President urged officials to remain motivated and committed to excellence.
“Refereeing is a continuous journey of growth. Challenges and mistakes will arise, but with determination and self-investment, you can achieve excellence. We are proud of your performances, particularly on the African continent, and will continue to advocate for more opportunities for you.”
His sentiments were echoed by GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, who emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in officiating.
“This badge is a testament to your hard work and professionalism. It is valid for 2025 and will be reviewed by FIFA at the end of the calendar year. We are confident you will continue to make Ghana proud,” Addo stated.
Details of the 2025 FIFA Badges
FIFA’s official list for 2025 includes:
10 Center Referees
10 Assistant Referees
1 Futsal Referee
1 Beach Soccer Referee
1 Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
In total, 12 male referees and 8 female referees were awarded badges, signifying their eligibility to officiate international matches throughout the year.
The FIFA badge, which is valid for one year, is considered the exclusive property of FIFA. Recipients are expected to uphold the highest standards as they represent Ghana on the global stage.
The ceremony saw presentations by GFA President Kurt Okraku, General Secretary Prosper Addo, and Chairperson of the Referees Committee Christine Enyonam Zigah. Other dignitaries, including Daniel Agbogah, W. Okine, and Referees Manager Alex Kotey, were also present.
The GFA has urged the referees to maintain their exemplary performance as they step onto the international stage to officiate matches in 2025.
