The General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Prosper Harrison Addo, has explained why the Ghana Premier League (GPL) has yet to introduce the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, despite increasing calls for its adoption to improve officiating.
Concerns over refereeing inconsistencies have been a major issue in the league, with some stakeholders arguing that poor decisions contribute to violence at match venues.
In an interview with 3Sports, Addo assured that the GFA is committed to implementing VAR but highlighted the financial and logistical challenges involved.
“We are on the journey to acquiring VAR, but some countries have more financial resources than others, allowing them to progress faster. VAR is not something you can simply purchase; several steps are involved, including training for referees and VAR technicians. We have been working with FIFA on this process,” Addo explained.
He further revealed that FIFA initially engaged member associations on VAR adoption but found the cost too high for some countries. To address this, FIFA is working with another company to develop a more affordable “VAR Light” system.
“Since the full VAR system is expensive, we are opting for the second option, but our referees have already received some VAR training,” Addo added.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Premier League will resume on March 7, 2025 after being suspended due to the tragic stabbing of a fan at Nsoatre.
The GFA has introduced stricter safety measures to prevent hooliganism and ensure a secure match-day experience.
