President of the Ghana football Association Kurt E S Okraku has hailed the ‘Catch Them Young’ Refereeing policy introduced by the association insisting it’s important to start very early.

The Ghana Football Association officially launched the Refereeing Policy on Tuesday at their secretariat in Accra.

The policy will see the GFA identify, nurture and train youngsters up to the SHS level to officiate juvenile matches withing their localities.

According to the President, the reason for introducing the policy is to nurture the referees early and add value to them.

“If we want good referees, male and female, it’s important to start very early,” the GFA President said at the launch of the policy.

“We want to comb the country and find young boys and girls with a passion for referees and add value to them.”

The President also disclosed the policy will be replicated at the district football level.

“Soon we will replicate the ‘Catch Them Young’ Refereeing Policy at the district football level.”

“This shows the association’s commitment to investing in referee.” He added.

The aim is to ensure that Ghanaian officials protect the integrity of the game by obeying fully all the provisions of the regulations on the Organization of Refereeing in FIFA Member Associations