Sports
GFA acquires new referee communication gadgets
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has acquired 10 sets of referee communication gadgets for the Ghana Premier League, the FA’s website said.
The equipment, manufactured by French outfit, Vokkero, was delivered to the General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo at the GFA Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, May 28, 2020.
This is a boost for Ghanaian referees who officiate in the Premier League as these gadgets are expected to aid effective communication during games in the Ghanaian top flight.
These communication gadgets will be used by all four match officials on match days across the nine League centres for effective communication.
Vokerro is a leader in radio communication systems for mobile teams for professionals.
Referees in the top flight officiated the first fifteen games of the season without the communication gadgets and this will be welcoming news for officiating officials.
The gadgets will also be used to officiate the other products of the GFA including the final of the MTN FA Cup, the Women’s Premier League final and some dicey games in the National Division One League.
The Premier League and other products of the Ghana Football Association are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Midfielder Thomas Partey will miss Ghana’s first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto after Canadian authorities refused him entry.
A FIFA statement to The Athletic confirmed the Arsenal star cannot travel from Ghana’s base camp in Boston, USA, for Wednesday’s, June 17, opener against Panama.
“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” the statement read.
FIFA stressed it has no role in immigration decisions: “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”
Canadian immigration rules state that “if you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed into Canada.” Partey has been charged with offenses in the UK but is awaiting trial and has not been convicted.
The Black Stars will now have to do without their midfield anchor for the crucial Group E opener against Panama.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana have arrived in Providence, Rhode Island, for the final phase of preparations ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The team departed Virginia on Thursday afternoon and touched down at T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island at about 6:00 p.m.
Head Coach Carlos Queiroz and his squad will resume training on Friday as they fine-tune preparations for their opening Group L game against Panama.
The Black Stars wrapped up a week-long training camp in Washington following their international friendly against Wales in Cardiff.
The camp in Virginia included intensive sessions at the American University and D.C. United training ground and a farewell dinner with the Ghanaian community in Alexandria.
Ghana now enters the final stretch of preparation in Providence before heading to Toronto for the June 17 opener against Panama at Toronto Stadium.
The Black Stars will also face England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27 to complete Group L.
Queiroz’s 26-man squad features captain Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, Iñaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, and goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, who is set for his second successive World Cup.
The team is expected to hold training sessions and series of Community engagement programs in Rhode Island in the coming days.
