The General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Prosper Harrison Addo, has addressed concerns over the absence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), explaining that financial and logistical challenges have delayed its introduction.
Calls for VAR implementation have intensified in recent years due to inconsistent officiating, with some stakeholders arguing that poor refereeing decisions contribute to crowd violence at match venues.
In an interview with 3Sports, Addo reassured the public that the GFA is actively working to introduce VAR, but the process requires significant investment and technical preparations.
“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; there are several steps 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 about implementing full VAR, but the cost was deemed too high. As a result, FIFA is now collaborating with a third-party company to develop a more affordable alternative called “VAR Light.”
“Since the full VAR system is costly, we are opting for the second option, but our referees have already undergone some level of VAR training,” Addo added.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Premier League is set to resume on March 7 after being suspended following the tragic stabbing of an Asante Kotoko fan in Nsoatre. The GFA has introduced enhanced safety measures to prevent hooliganism and ensure a secure matchday experience.
