Story by Augustine Appiah –

Mr. Akrofi Jorbua Amenya, Deputy General of the Referee Association of Ghana, has expressed high expectations for the new football season while addressing ongoing issues in officiating and the need for stronger collaboration between stakeholders.

Speaking on the matter, Amenya stated that he holds high expectations for the season ahead. He also touched on financial concerns, noting that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is not owing the referees but that matters remain outstanding regarding the MTN FA Cup money.

On comments made by the president regarding challenges in refereeing, Amenya urged that the remarks be viewed in their proper context. “What the president said could be in a context. But if you say it out of context then you are not being fair to us. So we should take it in context,” he said.

Amenya acknowledged that challenges exist and that no one is denying them. He pointed out that mistakes can occur and that some issues arise belatedly on a daily basis. He stressed that the Football Association should collaborate with referees to resolve these problems.

“The referee is going to their utmost best to be fair. There must be challenges; they should go back to the FA to be solved,” Amenya noted. He called on the president to engage the Sports Minister so that the ministry can work with the FA to return to the drawing board and find lasting solutions.

Amenya further suggested that some of the problems encountered should be treated as a learning process to help ensure fairer officiating going forward.

His comments underscore a desire for constructive engagement among the Referee Association, the GFA, and government authorities to strengthen the standards of refereeing in Ghanaian football.