PATRICIA KYERAA: GHANA'S RISING STAR IN REFERRING 

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh 

Born in August 1995 in Berekum, Patricia Kyeraa has emerged as one of Ghana's most promising referees. Her educational journey began at St. Monica's Basic School, followed by Berekum Methodist Senior High/Technical School, where she studied Home Economics. She later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education (PE) from the University of Education, Winneba. During her school days, Patricia was actively involved in football and netball, which sparked her passion for athletics and laid the foundation for her refereeing career.

A Journey into Refereeing:

In 2010, Patricia took a bold step into refereeing by joining the Berekum Referees Association. With guidance and mentorship from senior referees, she persevered in a male-dominated field. Her determination and resilience paid off in 2016 when she earned her Class One badge after passing all her referee examinations. Her outstanding performances soon caught the attention of the Classification Committee of the Referees Department of the Ghana Football Association, and in 2022, she was awarded the prestigious FIFA badge.

Career Highlights:

Patricia has officiated over 500 matches, serving both as assistant referee and centre referee in men's and women's games. Some of her notable domestic matches include:

- Eleven Wonders vs. Debibi United 
- Asekem vs. King Faisal
- Police Ladies vs. Ampem Darkoa
- Nsoatreman FC vs. Bofoakwa Tano (2024 FA Cup Final)

International Assignments:

On the international stage, she has represented Ghana in several CAF tournaments and FIFA matches, including:

- CAF Women's Champions League Qualifiers 2023 – Benin City, Nigeria
- CAF Women's Champions League Qualifiers 2024 – Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire
- CAF Women's Champions League Qualifiers 2025 – Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire
- WAFU U-20 Boys Cup 2025 – Prampram, Ghana

Other notable assignments include:

- Liberia vs. Cape Verde (WAFCON Qualifiers)
- Mali vs. Ethiopia (U-20 Qualifiers)
- Uganda vs. Zambia (U-17 Women's World Cup Qualifiers)
- Sierra Leone vs. Guinea (U-17 Women's World Cup Qualifiers)

Toughest Games

Her toughest games so far have been:

- Nsoatreman vs. Bofoakwa Tano (2024 FA Cup Final)
- Police Ladies vs. Ampem Darkoa (Women's Champion of Champions)

Awards and Recognition

In the 2022-23 season, Patricia was nominated as Best Female Assistant Referee in Ghana. In 2025, she further sharpened her expertise by attending the WAFCON Referees' Preparation Course in Cairo, Egypt. With her eyes now firmly set on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US/Mexico, Patricia continues to pursue excellence in her career.

Challenges and Motivation

Patricia acknowledges that her journey has not been easy. Beyond supporter intimidation, she faces the physical and emotional demands of refereeing. The profession, she notes, requires intensive training, hard work, frequent travel, balancing home responsibilities, and even managing challenges such as mood swings during menstruation. Despite these obstacles, she remains steadfast: "No matter the challenge, you must always give your best."

Message to the Youth

Patricia encourages young people to:

- Work hard
- Stay focused
- Never give up
- Respect others
- Remain prayerful