The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has outlined a strategic three-year plan to enhance the standards of coaching and refereeing in the country, aiming to address long-standing concerns about the quality of domestic football.

Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, the GFA’s Head of Public Relations and Strategy, highlighted that the initiative builds on the football DNA concept introduced during the tenure of GFA President Kurt Okraku. This philosophy, known as Agoro Ball, emphasizes Ghana’s traditional strength in midfield play and is now a key part of coaching education.

“We are ensuring that all coaches trained in Ghana adopt this philosophy,” Armstrong-Mortagbe stated, adding that it has been integrated into the national coaching curriculum.

Refereeing, another critical area of focus, has faced challenges since the fallout from the Number 12 documentary, which exposed corruption in Ghanaian football. Armstrong-Mortagbe acknowledged that the rebuilding process has been gradual, but progress is being made.

“When Kurt assumed office, refereeing and coaching were among his biggest concerns. Now, some of our referees are reaching the FIFA level and officiating in major tournaments. However, we recognize the ongoing criticisms and are committed to improving standards in the next three years to enhance the image of our game,” he added.

With this renewed focus, the GFA hopes to restore confidence in Ghanaian football by fostering a new generation of top-tier coaches and referees.