VAR Coming to Ghana Football - Kurt Announces

Kurt Okraku, the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has announced plans to introduce Video Assistant Referees (VAR) to Ghanaian football.

Speaking to the media in Sunyani, Okraku emphasized that the GFA is committed to enhancing refereeing standards and will be implementing several strategic measures to achieve this goal.

Kurt Okraku revealed that VAR technology is expected to make its debut in the Ghana Premier League. “We are going to introduce VAR into our football. We are committed to improving refereeing, starting with the GPL, and VAR is a key part of that strategy,” he stated.

Previously, VAR was used in Ghana only once, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff first leg between the Black Stars and Nigeria in Kumasi. Despite the GFA’s promises, the technology has not yet been utilized in the domestic league.

In 2021, the GFA had announced that FIFA had approved a project team for VAR implementation in Ghana. However, the high cost of the technology has been a significant barrier.

Last year, GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo acknowledged the expense but noted that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had committed to providing a more affordable version of VAR for countries like Ghana.

Kurt Okraku’s recent statements reaffirm the GFA’s intention to integrate VAR into Ghanaian football, though a specific timeline for its rollout has yet to be established.